PEMBROKE, NC – First-year midfielder Gianna Pavone netted her first career goal for Francis Marion University in an intense defensive battle that resulted in a 1-1 Conference Carolinas draw with 24th-ranked UNC Pembroke, Tuesday (Oct. 11) in women's soccer play.
 
The Patriots will be on the road with a match on Thursday (Oct. 13) against Belmont Abbey College at 3:30 p.m.  Hurricane Ian postponed the match earlier this season.
 
The Braves outshot the Patriots 35-4, with two Patriot attempts on target. However, FMU goalkeeper Makayla Willets posted a season-high 13 saves, with seven coming in the first half and six after halftime. Willets held the Braves scoreless in the first half facing 12 shots.
 
UNCP's Chiara Coppin ended the match with one save. #24 UNC Pembroke (11-2-1, 7-1-1) registered 15 shots on goal.
 
The Patriots would draw first blood with Pavone's goal to the upper left corner in the ninth minute.  It came after FMU stepped in front of a clearance attempt by UNCP's back line. The Braves would be awarded five corner kicks in the first half and were held scoreless by FMU.
 
FMU forward Valentina Restrepo led the Patriots with two shots, with one of Restrepo's efforts being on goal. Midfielder JG Garon accounted for the other Patriot attempt. 
 
UNCP's Ashleigh Harris would even the score on a corner kick that was batted around by a platoon of Braves and ended up in the back of the net in the 48th minute.   
 
The Braves would beat the Patriots out in corner kicks 16-1 throughout the match.
 
 
Francis Marion University ties #24 UNC Pembroke 1-1
Date: 10/11/22      Attendance: 142
 
Goals by period        1  2  Tot
-------------------------------------------
Francis Marion Univ.  1  0 -  1
UNC Pembroke........ 0  1 -  1
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.   8:20 FMU_W Gianna Pavone (1) (unassisted) - FMU steps in front of UNCP trying to clear ball. Shot upper left corner.
1-1.  47:28 UNCP Harris, Ashleigh (7) (unassisted)
 
Shots: Francis Marion 4, UNC Pembroke 35 ; Saves: Francis Marion 14 (Makayla Willets 13; TEAM 1), UNC Pembroke 1 (Chiara Coppin 1)