EVANS, GA - Sophomore forward Juan Rivas scored in the second
minute and top-seeded Francis Marion University never looked back
as the Patriots claimed a 2-0 win over fourth-seeded North Georgia
College & State University, Friday night (Nov. 7) in the
semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference men's soccer tournament.
The Patriots (12-4-3) extended their unbeaten streak to 13
matches, second longest in team history, and advance to Sunday's
championship match at 3:30 p.m. FMU will face third-seeded
Lander University, a 3-1 winner over USC Aiken, in Friday's first
semifinal. North Georgia ends its year with an 8-11-1 record.
Rivas put Francis Marion on the board only 1:19 into the match
when he received a serve from Kyle Clinton and instead of settling
the ball at his feet flicked the ball immediately toward the goal
and left Saints' goalkeeper Rade Tanaskovic with no chance to make
a save.
For Rivas it was his team-leading ninth score of 2008.
Clinton doubled the margin to 2-0 in the 30th minute when he
took a deflected pass and lofted a 20-yard shot over the
out-stretched arm of Tanaskovic.
The FMU defense, which allowed only four goals in six
regular-season Peach Belt matches, did the rest.
Sophomore goalkeeper Clark Richeson registered four saves as FMU
outshot North Georgia 17-11, although both teams had four
shots-on-goal. North Georgia led in corner kicks 7-5.
Tanaskovic made one save in the opening half, while Stephen
Smith played the second stanza and also made one stop.
North Georgia's best scoring opportunity came in the 87th minute
when Terry Gibbs found himself open near the 6-yard box and
one-touched a serve straight into the waiting hands of Richeson.
North Georgia (8-11-1) vs. Francis Marion Univ.
(12-4-3)
Date: Nov 07, 2008 Attendance: 210
Weather: Coool, Crisp, 60 degrees
Goals by period 1
2 Tot
-------------------------------
North Georgia....... 0 0 - 0
Francis Marion Univ. 2 0 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0. 1:19 FMU Rivas, Juan (9) (Clinton, Kyle) -
flick in after service
2-0. 29:23 FMU Clinton, Kyle (8) (unassisted) - 20-yard
shot after deflection
Shots: North Georgia 11, Francis Marion 17 ; Saves: North
Georgia 2 (Smith, Stephen 1; Tanaskovic, Rade 1), Francis Marion 4
(Richeson, Clark 4)
