FLORENCE, SC – Despite a match-tying score from defender Paal Vistnes off a first-half set piece, Francis Marion University lost a tough 2-1 decision to visiting Wingate University, Tuesday night (Sept. 13) in non-conference men's soccer action. 
 
FMU (2-3-2) will return to Conference Carolinas play on Sunday with a 4:30 p.m. match at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C.   That match was originally set for Saturday, but rescheduled for Sunday.
 
The Bulldogs held a narrow 15-13 edge in shots on Tuesday and a 7-4 margin in corner kicks.
 
FMU forward Javier Bello had an opportunity to put the Patriots on the board first in the 15th minute, but his 10-yard shot in the box was pushed aside by Bulldog goalkeeper Aleksa Janjic.
 
First-year midfielder Herman Fernandez had his 31st-minute attempt stopped by Janjic, and the ball rebounded to FMU forward Nick Huenig, but his shot from inside the penalty area sailed high over the crossbar.
 
Owen Marshall gave Wingate a 1-0 advantage when he headed in a corner kick from Mattia Ditommaso at the 36:06 mark.  Vistnes tallied the equalizing goal – his first as a Patriot – when he came forward on a corner kick at 41:21.  Pedro Crespo played the ball into the six-yard box where Vistnes backed into the sphere and deflected it into the goal past Janjic.
 
Wingate's Filip Johanson accounted for the match winner in the 59th minute when his left-footed blast from 20 yards out deflected off a defender and into the Patriot goal.
 
Fernandez looked to knot the score at 2-2, but his 19-yard blast following a 63rd-minute Patriot corner kick was stopped by a diving Janjic.
 
Patriot defender Sebastian Garcia recorded a pair of shots in the final six minutes, including the team's final attempt in the 90th minute that found the hands of Janjic.  Forward Jhancarlo Palma also registered an on-frame attempt at 86:05 that was saved by Janjic.
 
Patriot goalkeeper Andrea Scapolo registered three saves, but saw his scoreless minutes streak snapped at 259:37.  Janjic finished with seven stops.

 
 
Wingate University (1-2-2) def. Francis Marion Univ. (2-3-2) 2-1
Date: 09/13/22      Attendance: 87
 
Goals by period          1  2  Tot
---------------------------------------------
Wingate Univ.             1   1 -  2
Francis Marion Univ.   1  0 -  1
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  36:06 WU Owen Marshall (1) (Mattia Ditommaso) – header from 5 yards out off corner kick from right side
1-1.  41:21 FMU Paal Vistnes (1) (Pedro Crespo) – Off the back of Vistnes as he backed into a corner kick 3 yards off goal line
2-1.  58:40 WU Filip Johanson (1) (Florens van Honk) – ball laid back for 20-yard shot from right angle, deflected off defender and in
 
Shots: Wingate 15 Francis Marion 13 ; Saves: Wingate 7 (Aleksa Janjic 7), Francis Marion 4 (Andrea Scapolo 3, Team 1)