FLORENCE, S.C. – Eckerd College scored on three headers, two by junior forward Matt Knight, as the Tritons took a season-opening 3-1 victory over Francis Marion University, Thursday afternoon (Sept. 1) in men's soccer action.

Francis Marion (0-1-0) will play host to Wingate University on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Sophomore forward Alex Blandin scored Francis Marion's lone tally in the 85th minute.  While angling toward the left sideline, he received a through-ball from sophomore Jeran Nanthakumar.  Blandin then curled back toward the top of the 18-yard box where he blasted a 15-yard shot into the back netting.

Eckerd took a quick 1-0 advantage in the fifth minute when Thomas Serta scored on a header from seven yards out off an assist from Jimmy Lawler.

Knight scored the first of his two goals off a long service from Matt Duffy at 52:08.  FMU nearly trimmed the margin in half at 57:29, but Igor Souza's free kick sailed high over the crossbar.  Nanthakumar had a driving 18-yard shot that Eckerd goalkeeper Toni Virtanen made on a diving one-handed save on in the 65th minute.

The margin grew to 3-0 when Knight headed in a left-side cross from Anthony Arico at 69:33.

Eckerd outshot Francis Marion 9-6, but the Patriots took two of the match's three corner kicks.

FMU junior goalkeeper Will Barnette, making his first career start, recorded two saves, while Virtanen was forced to make only the one stop on Nanthakumar's attempt.

Eckerd College (1-0-0) def. Francis Marion Univ. (0-1-0) 3-1
Date: Sep 01, 2011  Attendance: 75          Weather: Sunny, 88 degrees

Goals by period          1  2  Tot
Eckerd College......      1  2 -  3
Francis Marion Univ.  0  1 -  1

SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.   4:33 EC Thomas Serta (1) (Jimmy Lawler) - Header from 7 yards after flick after throw in
2-0.  52:08 EC Matt Knight (1) (Matt Duffy) - header off long service from left sideline
3-0.  69:33 EC Matt Knight (2) (Anthony Arico) - Header after service from left side
3-1.  84:32 FMU Blandin, Alex (1) (Nanthakumar, Jeran) - 15 yard shot after curling from left sideline

Shots: Eckerd College 9, Francis Marion Univ. 6
Saves: Eckerd College 1 (Toni Virtanen 1), Francis Marion Univ. 2 (Barnette, Will 2)