FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore Kiley Barr headed in a corner kick by sophomore Anna Capra midway through the second half and that score provided Francis Marion University with a 1-0 victory over Belmont Abbey College, Tuesday night (Nov. 5) in non-conference women's soccer play.

The Patriots improve to 8-7-1, while Belmont Abbey drops to 10-4-3.  Francis Marion will conclude its regular-season slate on Saturday when it hosts third-ranked and unbeaten Flagler College at 4 p.m. on Hartzler Field.

On Tuesday, Francis Marion outshot the Crusaders 20-11, including a 13-5 edge over the final 45 minutes.  The Patriots also held a commanding 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Barr's match-winning goal came at the 69:25 mark.  It is her first tally of the year and the third goal of her career.

FMU senior goalkeeper Micahla Kitchen posted her fifth shut of 2019 by making six saves.  Belmont Abbey reserve keeper Carolina Lauer entered the match in the 65th minute and allowed the one score, while recording four saves.  Crusader starter Lauryn Harding made eight stops over the opening 64:37 before retiring to the bench.

The Patriots had several serious scoring opportunities during the first stanza.  A long shot by Capra following a failed clearance off an FMU corner kick, nearly squirted through the legs of Harding in the eighth minute, but the BAC keeper recovered the ball before it crossed the goal line.  In the 16th minute, an attempt by Barr forced a sprawling save by Harding that resulted in another corner kick, and junior Dayle McEwen found junior Emma Hall's service, but her header sailed over the crossbar.

Following halftime – in the 48th minute – FMU freshman Zenia Nava sent in a bending shot from 17 yards out on the right side that forced Harding to go to the ground for a save.  In the 61st minute, another header by McEwen, off a service from the left side, was picked off by Harding.  In the 69th minute prior to the goal, shots by junior Megan Misuraca and Capra forced leaping saves by Lauer, the second of which resulted in the corner kick that found Barr's head and produced the victory.

Junior defender Brooke Kennedy played well in an emergency start that occurred when one of the two Patriot starting center backs came up lame in pre-match warm-ups.

Senior Carli Gauthier and junior Sarah Moll led Francis Marion with three shots apiece.

Post-match comments from FMU head coach Lindsey Morgan

Francis Marion Univ. (8-7-1) def. Belmont Abbey Coll. (10-4-3) 1-0
Date: 11/05/19      Attendance: 77
Weather: Pleasant

Goals by period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Belmont Abbey Coll..  0  0 -  0
Francis Marion Univ.  0  1 -  1

SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  69:25 FMU_W Kiley Barr (1) (Anna Capra) - Header from 5 yards out off corner kick

Shots: Belmont Abbey 11, Francis Marion 20 ; Saves: Belmont Abbey 12 (Lauryn Harding 8; Caroline Lauer 4), Francis Marion 6 (Micahla Kitchen 6)