FLORENCE, SC – Forward Alvaro Zamora scored the tie-breaking goal and assisted on an insurance tally as Francis Marion University downed 18th-ranked North Greenville University, Saturday night (Sept. 24) in Conference Carolinas men's soccer action. 
 
FMU evens its overall mark at 4-4-2 and climbs back into the hunt for the conference crown with a 3-1-0 record.  The Patriots, now tied for second place, host Chowan University in a key conference tilt on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Hartzler Field.
 
The Patriot defense held the nationally ranked Crusaders to only three shots, with only the goal being on frame.  FMU managed 12 shots.  NGU registered a 6-2 edge in corner kicks.
 
Francis Marion forward Javier Bello gave FMU a 1-0 advantage on a penalty kick with 17 ticks left before halftime.  The PK was awarded as Patriot midfielder Gabriele Cavarero was taken down in the penalty area by a Crusader.  North Greenville goalkeeper Michel Weber guessed right on the attempt, but Bello powered his kick over the diving Weber.
 
Earlier in the half, FMU midfielder Hugo Jonsson took advantage of an NGU turnover in their defensive end and attempted a 14-yard shot that was corralled by Weber in the 23rd minute.  Less than a minute later, Alvaro Zamora led a Patriot break that ended with his 16-yard shot sailing just outside the right post.
 
Cavarero had two opportunities to add to the 1-0 lead in the 54th minute.  His first shot from 6-yards out was stopped by Weber and when the ball rebounded to Cavarero, his second attempt clipped a defender and then clanged off the post.
 
North Greenville netted the equalizing goal at 60:50 when Paul Mues took a short cross from Renan Macuglia and buried a swinging 11-yard shot.
 
A cross by Francis Marion midfielder Luuk Geelen in the left side of the penalty area caught the arm of a Crusader defender resulting in a second penalty kick to the Patriots at the 69:45 mark.  Zamora converted from the spot with a blast just left of center, and is now 5-of-6 from the penalty spot in his career.
 
In the 78th minute, Zamora assisted on the final tally with a touch pass to midfielder Herman Fernandez, who was true on a 19-yard shot that slipped just inside the left post.  Zamora now has career totals of 16 goals and 13 assists.
 
Weber finished with five saves, while Patriot goalkeeper Andrea Scapolo did not have a save due to the lack of on-frame attempts.
 
It is the third win over a nationally ranked opponent in head coach Luis Rincon's four-year tenure at Francis Marion.

 
Francis Marion Univ. (4-4-2, 3-1-0) def.  #18 North Greenville (4-3-2, 2-1-2) 3-1
Date: 09/24/22      Attendance: 100
 
Goals by period          1  2  Tot
-----------------------------------------
#18 North Greenville  0  1 -  1
Francis Marion Univ.  1  2 -  3
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  44:43 FMU Javier Bello Penalty kick - GK guessed correctly diving left, but shot was above him and in
1-1.  60:50 NGU Paul Mues (1) (Renan Macuglia) – short cross from endline, left side of box to middle, swinging 11-yard shot
2-1.  69:45 FMU Alvaro Zamora Penalty kick - GK dives left (shooter's right), PK taken left of middle off ground
3-1.  77:59 FMU Herman Fernandez (1) (Alvaro Zamora) - Tough pass to middle of field, 19-yard shot in left side of goal (just inside post)
 
Shots: #18 North Greenville 3, Francis Marion 12 ; Saves: #18 North Greenville 5 (Michel Weber 5), Francis Marion 0 (Andrea Scapolo 0)