MURFREESBORO, NC – Two second-half goals by Chowan University were more than Francis Marion University could overcome and the Patriots fell 2-1, Saturday afternoon (Oct. 28) in Conference Carolinas women's soccer action.
 
The Patriots conclude their regular season with a 7-5-4 overall mark and finish 4-4-4 in conference play.  FMU will learn its first-round opponent in the conference tournament when the pairings are announced later Saturday night.  The Patriots will likely host a first-round match on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
 
After a scoreless opening 45 minutes that featured only a combined eight shots and one corner kick, Chowan's Madeline Bell scored the first goal at 55:31.  Less than nine minutes later, Natasha Bailey doubled the margin to 2-0 with a score at 64:13.
 
FMU sophomore forward Kristina Syragakis tallied her team-leading 14th goal of the season at 69:43 when she scored on her own corner kick to bring the margin back to one.  Her season total equals the sixth-highest number in program history and is the most by a Patriot since Kirby Stenard knocked in 14 during the 2006 season.
 
Chowan led in shots 12-9 and both teams earned three corner kicks.
 
FMU senior goalkeeper Makayla Willets recorded six saves to move into sole possession of second place on the Patriot career list with 293 saves, replacing Jacque Sutphin.
 
Kirsten Petersen made two stops in goal for the Hawks.
 
After trimming the margin to 2-1, Francis Marion had several opportunities to register the equalizer, but junior midfielder JG Garon was high on an attempt in the 73rd minute and freshman defender Joy Brockmann was high with her effort in the 81st minute.  The Patriots also had a corner kick in the 82nd minute, but could not produce a shot.
 
 
Chowan (3-6-5, 3-4-5) def. Francis Marion Univ. (7-5-4, 4-4-4) 2-1
Date: 10/28/23      Attendance: 30
 
Goals by period          1  2  Tot
---------------------------------------------
Francis Marion Univ.    0  1 -  1
Chowan....................  0  2 -  2
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1.  55:31 CHO Madeline Bell (1) (Destiny Makanjuola)
2.  64:13 CHO Natasha Bailey (8) (Brielle Dumont, Regan Jackson)
3.  69:43 FMU_W Kristina Syragakis (14) (unassisted)
 
Shots: Francis Marion Univ. 9, Chowan 12 ; Saves: Francis Marion Univ. 6 (Makayla Willets 6), Chowan 2 (Kirsten Petersen 2)