FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore Dayle McEwen converted on a first-half penalty kick, but it was not enough to overcome a three-goal deficit as Francis Marion University dropped a 4-1 decision to the University of North Georgia, Sunday afternoon (Sept. 23) in Peach Belt Conference women's soccer action.

Francis Marion (2-4-0, 0-2-0) will play host to 13th-ranked Georgia College on Wednesday with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.

North Georgia's Dani Shartouny scored an unassisted goal at the 7:51 mark to give the Nighthawks an early 1-0 lead.  Shartouny then assisted on UNG's second tally, an 8-yard shot off the foot of Renee VanHorn at 16:30.  Freshman Brooke Fitzhugh added a third goal at 40:32 to up the margin to 3-0.

A handball in the box called against a Nighthawk defender resulted in a penalty kick with 1:35 left before halftime.  McEwen converted for her fifth goal of the season and that play trimmed the deficit to 3-1 at halftime.

The margin remained two goals until Caroline Nelson headed in a Nighthawk corner kick with 5:29 remaining.

FMU freshman goalkeeper Rachael Hennenkamp recorded a career-high 11 saves, including several leaping and diving stops.  UNG junior Hannah Goudy made one save in 86 minutes before giving way to reserve Kaitlyn Siberski.

North Georgia (5-1-0, 2-0-0) held a 24-4 advantage in shots and a 9-3 edge in corner kicks.

Post-match comments from FMU head coach Lindsey Morgan

North Georgia (5-1-0, 2-0-0) def. Francis Marion Univ. (2-4-0, 0-2-0) 4-1
Date: Sep 23, 2018  Attendance: 155
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 85, Winds N @ 7 mph

Goals by period          1  2  Tot
----------------------------------
North Georgia.......     3  1 -  4
Francis Marion Univ.   1  0 -  1
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.   7:51 UNG Dani Shartouny (2) (unassisted) - Turnover, then 14-yard shot past GK
2-0.  16:30 UNG Renee VanHorn (5) (Dani Shartouny) - short pass from left side of box, 8 yard shot
3-0.  40:32 UNG Brooke Fitzhugh (1) (Payton Bisso;Daizah Patterson) - 8 yard shot
3-1.  43:25 FMU_W Dayle McEwen (5) Penalty kick
4-1.  84:31 UNG Caroline Nelson (1) (Asa Thorsen) - header off corner after GK patted ball

Shots: North Georgia 24, Francis Marion Univ. 4 ; Saves: North Georgia 1 (Hannah Goudy 1, Kaitlyn Siberski 0), Francis Marion Univ. 11  (Rachael Hennenkamp 11)