FLORENCE, SC – A quintet of Patriots netted a goal as Francis Marion University sailed to a 5-0 victory on Senior Night over visiting Erskine College, Saturday night (Oct. 22) in Conference Carolinas men's soccer play. 
 
FMU concludes the 2022 regular season with a 7-5-5 overall record and a 6-2-3 conference record.  With the win, the Patriots finish in a tie for second place in the conference, and by virtue of tiebreakers will be the No.2 seed.
 
Francis Marion will have a two-week hiatus as the Patriots earn a double-bye straight to the semifinals. They will return to action on Friday (Nov. 4) at 7 p.m. at Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park in Browns Summit, N.C.
 
Erskine finishes its year at 1-14-1 and 1-9-1.
 
Francis Marion outshot the Flying Fleet 26-5 with 13 tries on frame. FMU also held a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Patriot goalkeeper Andrea Scapolo registered three saves en route to his sixth shutout of the season.
 
Forward Pedro Crespo netted the first score at the 18:53 mark after a ball was served in but failed to be cleared by the Flying Fleet. Thirty-seven seconds later, at 19:24, midfielder Matias Morales punched a goal into the left corner of the net after a well-played ball over the top from midfielder Hugo Jonsson.
 
Playing for the final time at Hartzler Field, forward Alvaro Zamora gave FMU a 3-0 advantage in the 30th minute with his sixth goal of the season and 20th of his illustrious career. He scored the final goal of the first half from 15 yards out.
 
The goal scoring did not stop there, as a cross on the ground from forward Nick Huenig was put away by midfielder Gabriele Cavarero from nine yards out at 57:08.
 
Senior forward Javier Bello netted the final goal in the 79th minute for FMU to go up 5-0. His score came from a left-side service that was deflected off an Erskine defender and was ultimately headed into the back right corner. His nine goals in the regular season tie his most all-time from his freshmen season in 2019.  It was the 27th score of his four-year career.
 
Bello led FMU with seven shots, with three on frame. Forward Jose Curvelo and Cavarero both registered three shots, while midfielder Luis Villarreal, Huenig, and midfielder Luuk Geelen each tallied two shots. Seven Patriots fired off one shot apiece.
 
Sebastian Garcia, a defender from Asuncion, Paraguay, and Alexander Schulze, a goalkeeper from Munich, Germany, were the third and fourth seniors honored prior to the contest.

 
 
Francis Marion Univ. (7-5-5, 6-2-3) def. Erskine College (1-14-1, 1-9-1) 5-0
Date: 10/22/22      Attendance: 100
 
Goals by period         1  2  Tot
---------------------------------------
Erskine College.....     0  0 -  0
Francis Marion Univ.  3  2 -  5
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  18:53 FMU Pedro Crespo (1) (unassisted) - Served in, failed clearance, 15 yard shot from left angle
2-0.  19:24 FMU Matias Morales (1) (Hugo Jonsson) - ball played over the top, 16-yard shot from middle of box
3-0.  29:10 FMU Alvaro Zamora (6) (unassisted) - 15 yard shot from left angle
4-0.  57:08 FMU Gabriele Cavarero (1) (Nick Huenig) - cross from left on ground, 9 yard shot
5-0.  78:32 FMU Javier Bello (9) (unassisted) - Service into box from left, failed clearance, 7 yard header
 
Shots: Erskine College 5, Francis Marion 26 ; Saves: Erskine College 8 (Evan Zizek 6; Luka Price 1; TEAM 1), Francis Marion 3 (Andrea Scapolo 3)