BELMONT, NC – Luis Villarreal came off the Francis Marion University bench and delivered the match-winning score with 16:02 remaining as the Patriots claimed a 1-0 road win over Belmont Abbey College, Monday night (Oct. 17) in Conference Carolinas men's soccer action. 
 
Francis Marion ups its overall record to 6-5-4 overall and moves into a tie for fourth place with a 5-2-2 conference mark.
 
FMU will play at first-place Converse University in Spartanburg on Wednesday at 5 p.m.  The Patriots will conclude their regular season on Saturday with a 7 p.m. Senior Night match against Erskine College.
 
The goal-scoring sequence began with a throw by Matias Morales, continued with a cross into the six-yard box by Alvaro Zamora, and an eventual shot by Javier Bello that was stopped by Belmont Abbey goalkeeper Will Whitman.  The Crusaders' back line then attempted to clear the ball, but it only got as far as Villarreal who corralled the ball near the top of the penalty area.  His 17-yard blast found its way into the lower left corner of the goal for Villarreal's second goal of the season.
 
Francis Marion outshot the Crusaders 7-5, and for the second match in a row, the Patriots took all the corner kicks in the match (5).
 
FMU goalkeeper Andrea Scapolo was forced to make only one save while posting his second consecutive clean sheet and fifth shutout of the season.  Whitman recorded four saves.
 
Villarreal and midfielder Hugo Jonsson led FMU with two shots apiece.