BROWNS SUMMIT, NC – A 79th-minute goal and a diving save in the 89th minute ended the title hopes of Francis Marion University as the second-seeded Patriots fell to top-seeded Converse University 1-0, Sunday afternoon (Nov. 6) in the championship match of the Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Tournament.
Francis Marion ends its season at 8-6-5 and for the second year in a row falls by one goal in the tournament title match. The Valkyries (13-1-4), in only their second year of existence, captured the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Converse held a slight 14-12 edge in shots, and the Valkyries led 7-2 in corner kicks.
The scoreless deadlock was snapped at 78:47 when Converse's Sinan Kilincarslan sent a cross into the box and Tobias Bruecher was successful on a 16-yard shot.
FMU All-Conference midfielder
Alvaro Zamora forced a save by Converse goalkeeper David Windmiller in the 86th minute. Zamora had a better chance to knot the score with 1:18 left, but his bending free kick from just outside the penalty area was pushed outside the right post by a diving Windmiller.
In the final minute, All-Conference forward
Javier Bello had the Patriots' last chance at overtime, but his shot sailed wide to the left of the goal.
Francis Marion goalkeeper
Andrea Scapolo posted seven saves, while Windmiller finished with five stops.
FMU midfielders
Paul Sapper and Hugo Jonsson, along with defender
Said Garcia, were all named to the All-Tournament Team.
Zamora led FMU with six shots, four of which were on frame, while both Bello and
Jhancarlo Palma registered two shots each.
Converse (13-1-4) def. Francis Marion Univ. (8-6-5) 1-0
Date: 11/06/22 Attendance: 196
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
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Francis Marion Univ. 0 0 - 0
Converse Univ......... 0 1 - 1
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0. 78:47 CONV Bruecher, Tobias (3) (Kilincarslan, Sinan)
Shots: Francis Marion 12, Converse 14 ; Saves: Francis Marion 7 (
Andrea Scapolo 7), Converse 5 (David Windmiller 5)
