FLORENCE, SC – Junior forward Javier Bello and sophomore midfielder Alvaro Zamora keyed a second-half explosion as Francis Marion University scored all of its goals after halftime in a 4-0 blanking of Clayton State University, Monday night (March 22) in Peach Belt Conference men's soccer action.
 
Francis Marion (4-3-2, 3-3-2) will play its final two regular-season matches against USC Aiken, March 29 at USCA at 5 p.m. and April 1 in Florence at 6 p.m.
 
After outshooting the Lakers 6-1 in a scoreless first stanza, Francis Marion came out pressing in the second 45 minutes.  Creating numerous scoring opportunities, FMU finally broke through in the 68th minute.  Zamora played a through ball to Bello who broke through the Clayton State back line, dribbled somewhat around the Laker goalkeeper Theo Blachon, and slotted a 5-yard shot from a tight left angle.
 
The margin doubled only 1:38 later when again Zamora played a through ball to Bello, but this time he deftly placed a one-touch pass to his right where junior forward Nestor Nunez took control and drove in for an 8-yard shot.
 
At the 71:59 mark, junior defender Sam Pollard fed a pass up the left sideline to junior midfielder Jafet Santiago.  His cross from 32 yards out bent into the goal to up the margin to 3-0.   Bello notched his second goal of the match at 81:01 thanks to another Zamora helper.  Zamora chipped a through ball ahead to Bello who dribbled around Blachon for a tap-in score.
 
Francis Marion outshot the Lakers 16-3, although Clayton State earned three of the match's four corner kicks.  None of the Laker shots were on target owing to a tight Patriot defense.
 
FMU senior goalkeeper Maximiliano Rocco played the first 89 minutes, but was relieved by freshman Noah Craig in the final seconds after being nixed up on a collision in the box.  Blachon finished with three saves.  Although he did not have to make a save, Rocco is credited with his third clean sheet of the season and the 14th of his 2-year Patriot career.
 
In the opening half, a Clayton State handball near the left sideline at 21:51 produced a free kick for Francis Marion, but Blachon gathered it without any trouble.  The Laker keeper stopped a shot by Bello in the 30th minute.
 
In the 35th minute, Francis Marion produced a turnover in its attacking end, and after a nice build-up, junior forward Nils Gulbranson fired a shot that was left of the target. Only 36 seconds later, another errant Laker pass led to a scoring opportunity for freshman midfielder Kimo Lemke, but Blachon came off his line and blocked the attempt in the middle of the penalty area.
 
Bello, Santiago, and freshman Isak Strand led FMU with three shots apiece.

 
 
Francis Marion Univ. (4-3-2, 3-3-2) def. Clayton St. (3-4-0, 3-4-0) 4-0
Date: 03/22/21      Attendance: 57
Weather: Mostly clear, breezy, 70 degrees
 
Goals by period         1  2  Tot
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Clayton State..........   0  0 -  0
Francis Marion Univ.  0  4 -  4
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  67:06 FMU Javier Bello (3) (Alvaro Zamora) - Through ball, dribbles around GK, slotted 5-yard shot from tough left angle
2-0.  68:44 FMU Nestor Nunez (1) (Javier Bello;Alvaro Zamora) - Through ball to #9, taps to right to #14, drives in for 8-yard shot
3-0.  71:59 FMU Jafet Santiago (1) (Sam Pollard) - Pass ahead, 32 yard cross from left sideline goes into net
4-0.  81:01 FMU Javier Bello (4) (Alvaro Zamora) - Through ball, #9 dribbles around GK for tap-in score
 
Shots: Clayton State 3, Francis Marion 16 ; Saves: Clayton State 3 (Theo Blachon 3), Francis Marion 0 (Maximiliano Rocco 0, Noah Craig 0)