AIKEN, SC – Freshman midfielder Kandace Letton scored her first collegiate goal in the 18th minute and that was enough to push Francis Marion University to a 1-0 road win over USC Aiken, Monday night (March 29) in Peach Belt Conference women's soccer action.
 
Francis Marion ends its covid-delayed 2020 campaign with two straight wins and a 4-6-0 record.  Two of the defeats were by one goal in overtime.  This marked the first season for new head coach Chelsea Parker.
 
Letton's score came at the 17:23 mark when she found the back of the net on an assist from senior Dayle McEwen.  From near midfield, McEwen sent the ball to the top of the penalty area where it deflected off the head of a Pacer defender to Letton who fired a 9-yard shot from the right side off the crossbar and in.
 
FMU sophomore goalkeeper Makayla Willets posted four saves en route to her second complete-match clean sheet of the year.  She made second-half saves in the 59th and 62nd minutes. The Patriots outshot the Pacers 7-6 and doubled up USCA in corner kicks 8-4.
 
McEwen and freshman Ambrea Hills led the Patriots with two shots apiece.
 
Georgia Martell played the opening 57 minutes in goal for USCA, while Mary Cecil tended goal for the final 33 minutes and made one save.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. (4-6-0) def. USC Aiken (1-4-1) 1-0
Date: Mar 29, 2021  Attendance: 108
 
Goals by period          1  2  Tot
-----------------------------------------
Francis Marion Univ.  1  0 -  1
USC Aiken...........       0  0 -  0
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  17:23 FMU Kandace Letton (Dayle McEwen) - pass from right cross shot
 
Shots: Francis Marion 7, USC Aiken 6 ; Saves: Francis Marion 4 (Makayla Willets 4), USC Aiken 1 (Georgia Martell 0, Mary Cecil 1)