FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore midfielder
Martin Juanche Gomez came off the Francis Marion University bench and scored the tying goal in the 68th minute during a 1-1 draw with Lees-McRae College, Saturday afternoon (Oct. 14) in Conference Carolinas men's soccer action.
The East Division leading Patriots are unbeaten in their last nine matches and move to 6-1-5 overall and 5-0-3 in conference play.
Francis Marion will host Barton College on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Donations will be accepted at the match for the Conference Carolinas SAAC Food Drive, with proceeds going to the Harvest Hope Food Bank of the Pee Dee.
Saturday's Senior Day match featured only 10 total shots – five by each squad. Francis Marion held a 6-5 edge in corner kicks. Prior to kick-off, FMU honored defender
Max Bisinger, midfielder Hugo Jonsson, forward
Juan Aleman, midfielder
Vicente Arratia Veit, and forward
Pedro Crespo.
Lees-McRae's only shot on frame was its goal, scored by Harrison Watts on a nine-yard shot at the 11:06 mark.
The Patriots, which did not register a shot over the opening 66 minutes, did have a scoring opportunity of sorts in the 38th minute. Crespo sent a dangerous free kick into the Bobcats' six-yard box, but LMC goalkeeper Sean Green corralled a deflection to thwart the threat.
Green made two saves – both in the second half – while FMU junior goalkeeper
Felipe Ramos Peralta did not record a save.
Still trailing 1-0, Aleman sent a bending cross into the penalty area in the 64th minute, but no Patriot could get on the end of it.
The equalizing score came at the 67:08 mark when a Bobcat clearance of a cross landed at the feet of Juanche Gomez who scorched a 25-yard shot into the right side of the Lees-McRae goal.
In the 85th minute, Lees-McRae was awarded a free kick just outside the penalty box. Jesper Jonsson's shot was blocked over the end line for a corner kick. On that ensuing kick, the Patriot defense started a transition break with junior
Andre Sabino dribbling 40 yards down the far sideline and feeding leading scorer
Edorta Cabieces near the top of the other penalty area. Green came off his line to stuff Cabieces' attempt.
While Lees-McRae held an edge in possession over the opening 45 minutes, the Patriots drastically reversed that in the second half.
Lees-McRae College (3-5-4, 3-3-2) ties Francis Marion Univ. (6-1-5, 5-0-3) 1-1
Date: 10/14/23 Attendance: 111
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
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Lees-McRae College.. 1 0 - 1
Francis Marion Univ. 0 1 - 1
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0. 11:06 LMC Watts, Harrison (2) (Schulze, Nils) - Intercepted pass, fed off to left, 9 yard shot
1-1. 67:08 FMU
Martin Juanche Gomez (2) (unassisted) - Clearance of cross, collected and shot from 25 yards out
Shots: Lees-McRae College 5, Francis Marion Univ. 5 ; Saves: Lees-McRae College 2 (Sean Green 2), Francis Marion Univ. 0 (
Felipe Ramos Peralta)
