MURFREESBORO, NC – Chowan University scored on a rebound opportunity in the 67th minute and hung on for a 2-1 win over Francis Marion University, Saturday afternoon (Oct. 28) in Conference Carolinas men's soccer play.
 
Francis Marion, the East Division champions, end their regular season at 7-3-6 overall and 6-1-4 in league action.  FMU was ranked first in the KPI rankings that decide seeded for the upcoming conference tournament, but the Patriots will now have to await the seedings that will be announced later Saturday night.
 
Chowan held a 1-0 advantage at halftime thanks to an unassisted score by Abdoulie Sanneh at the 18:22 mark.
 
Francis Marion quickly found the equalizing goal in the first minute of the second half.  After a solid build up, freshman Samuel Lopez found junior forward Rafael Silverio open in the penalty are and he converted on a 12-yard shot at 45:56.  It was his third goal of the season.
 
Chowan scored the eventually match-winner at 66:09 when Junior Smith scored on a rebound shot after his first attempt was stopped by FMU junior goalkeeper Felipe Ramos Peralta.
 
Ramos Peralta finished with six saves, while Chowan's Chase Jansen had five stops.
 
Both teams recorded 10 shots, while the Hawks registered the only three corner kicks of the match.
 
Lopez put a shot on frame in the 69th minute that was saved by Jansen and Silverio had the only other potential tying attempt, but he was wide with his effort with 31 ticks remaining.
 
 
Chowan (7-4-4, 7-2-2) def. Francis Marion Univ. (7-3-6, 6-1-4) 2-1
Date: 10/28/23      Attendance: 59
 
Goals by period           1  2  Tot
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Francis Marion Univ.    0  1 -  1
Chowan....................  1  1 -  2
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  18:22 CHO Abdoulie Sanneh (4) (unassisted)
1-1.  45:56 FMU Rafael Silverio (3) (Samuel Lopez)
2-1.  66:09 CHO Junior Smith (5) (unassisted)
 
Shots: Francis Marion Univ. 10, Chowan 10 ; Saves: Francis Marion Univ. 6 (Felipe Ramos Peralta 6), Chowan 5 (Chase Jansen 5)