FLORENCE, SC – Junior forward
Edorta Cabieces scored a pair of second-half goals to rally Francis Marion University to a 2-1 win over Lenoir-Rhyne University and hand head coach
Luis Rincon his 100th career victory, Wednesday night (Sept. 27) in non-conference men's soccer action.
FMU, unbeaten in its last five matches, improves to 5-1-2. The Patriots return to Conference Carolinas play this weekend with a match at pre-season favorite Converse University on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
After trailing 1-0 at halftime, Cabieces scored in the 47th and 77th minutes to erase the deficit. For Rincon, it moves his career men's collegiate record to 100-43-21 in this his ninth season (the last five of which have been at FMU). Ironically, LRU head coach Carlos Rubio and assistant Jorge Morales were members of his 2015 Ohio Valley University squad that defeated Pitt-Johnstown 2-1 on Sept. 3, 2015, for Rincon's first win.
Francis Marion outshot the Bears 12-10, although Lenoir-Rhyne held a slight 9-7 edge in corner kicks.
FMU junior goalkeeper
Felipe Ramos Peralta tallied three saves, while LRU graduate student Juan Basabe registered four stops in goal.
LRU (1-3-3) took a 1-0 advantage on a header from five yards out by Ivan Rubio at the 10:10 mark. The Bears looked to double that margin in the 15th minute, but Ramos Peralta made a diving stop of a 30-yard blast by Hector Nieto.
The Patriots looked to equalize, but
Mario Buelga had his attempt blocked by a defender in the 19th minute, and
Pedro Crespo's header in the 6-yard box was just outside the left post in the 26th minute after a brilliant cross from
Jhancarlo Palma.
The tying score came 1:25 into the second half as graduate student
Juan Aleman intercepted a pass at midfield and fed a through ball to Cabieces who then scored on a 19-yard right-footed shot.
Lenoir-Rhyne nearly regained the lead in the 60th minute, but a 20-yard shot by Adrian Martina was deflected over the end line for a corner kick.
The winning score came on a sequence that began near the Patriot goal. The ball was cleared down the left sideline, kept in play by Palma, and then he crossed the ball to the middle of the penalty area where Cabieces gained control on his first touch and then slotted the ball into the goal from near the penalty spot at 76:19. Cabieces leads Francis Marion with five goals and 12 points.
The Bears would manage only one more shot in the match, but it was not on frame.
Possession was split evenly at 50 percent for each team.
Francis Marion Univ. (5-1-2) def. Lenoir-Rhyne Univ. (1-3-3) 2-1
Date: 09/27/23 Attendance: 192
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
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Lenoir-Rhyne Univers 1 0 - 1
Francis Marion Univ. 0 2 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 10:10 LRU Rubio, Ivan (1) (Gardner, Oliver;Rowe, Harri) - Service into box from right side, headed to far post and headed in
2. 46:25 FMU
Edorta Cabieces (4) (
Juan Aleman) - Interception at midfield, through ball for 19 yard shot (right angle)
3. 76:19 FMU
Edorta Cabieces (5) (
Jhancarlo Palma) - Cross from left sideline to middle of box, one touch, then shot from penalty spot
Shots: Lenoir-Rhyne 10, Francis Marion 12 ; Saves: Lenoir-Rhyne 4 (Juan Basabe 4), Francis Marion 3 (
Felipe Ramos Peralta 3)
