FLORENCE, SC – A pair of second-half goals from sophomore Jonas Dovland and senior Gaspard Mianne helped Francis Marion University knock off Georgia Southwestern State University 2-0 in Peach Belt Conference men's soccer action Saturday night (Oct. 13).

The shutout is the second straight for FMU, and fourth of the season. Francis Marion has not been scored upon over the last 192:03 of action. The win also lifts the Patriots (6-5-0, 2-2-0) into a tie for fourth place in the conference standings.

FMU hits the road on Saturday (Oct. 17) to face Clayton State University at 3:30 p.m. The Patriots' next home contest will be Senior Day on Wednesday, Oct. 24, against USC Aiken at 7 p.m. on Hartzler Field.

Francis Marion dominated the opening stanza, outshooting the Hurricanes (3-7-2, 0-3-1) 11-1. Dovland dragged a shot just wide of the post in the fourth minute, and senior Oliver Drakenhammar chipped a shot wide from 10 yards out, for two of the better chances of the opening half. However, the Patriots were unable to turn their opportunities into a goal, and the contest was scoreless at halftime.

Francis Marion continued to control play in the second half, and turned their dominance into a lead in the 51st minute. Freshman Sam Pollard found Dovland at the top of the box, and he fired it hard and low for his third goal of the season.

Pollard was once again involved in FMU's second goal. Senior Julian Kersting launched a long arcing ball forward into the Georgia Southwestern penalty area which Pollard ran on to, and the freshman was fouled, giving the Patriots a penalty kick. Mianne stepped up and buried it for his first goal of the season to make it 2-0 at 62:52.

Drakenhammar and freshman Martin Coughlan had chances in the 72nd and 73rd minutes, respectively, but GSW freshman goalkeeper Francesco Bazzano stopped both to keep the margin at two.

The Francis Marion back line trio of Kersting, junior Matthew Bainbridge, and freshman Magnus Hoejland limited the Hurricanes to four shots for the evening. The visitors' lone shot on target came at the 86:18 mark. Senior Jonathan Sayers curled a ball toward the back post, but it was tipped away by freshman goalkeeper James Hewison.

FMU took 19 shots to GSW's four, and held a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Patriots' freshman goalkeeper Kristoffer Gregenaes did not record a save in 83 minutes of action, while Hewison stopped the lone shot he faced in his collegiate debut. Bazzano tied his career-high with eight stops for the Hurricanes.

Post-match comments from sophomore Jonas Dovland

Francis Marion Univ. (6-5-0, 2-2-0) def. Ga. Southwestern St. (3-7-2, 0-3-1) 2-0
Date: Oct 13, 2018  Attendance: 100
Weather: Mostly clear,74 degrees,Winds NE @ 6 mph

Goals by period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Ga. Southwestern St.  0  0 -  0
Francis Marion Univ.  0  2 -  2

SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  50:15 FMU Jonas Dovland (3) (Sam Pollard) - cross from left, deflected off def, 16 yd shot into right side net
2-0.  62:52 FMU Gaspard Mianne (1) Penalty kick - beat GK to left side of goal

Shots: Ga. Southwestern St. 4, Francis Marion 19 ; Saves: Ga. Southwestern St. 8 (Francesco Bazzano 8), Francis Marion 1 (Kristoffer Gregenaes 0, James Hewison 1)