FLORENCE, SC – Junior forward Tehya Davé scored the only goal for Francis Marion University in the 1-1 draw against I-95 rival UNC Pembroke on Saturday (Oct. 12) evening.
Francis Marion (6-1-3, 5-0-2) returns to the pitch on Wednesday (Oct. 16), hosting Chowan University at 4:30 p.m. With the tie, FMU retains sole possession of first place in the East Division standings of Conference Carolinas.
Patriot sophomore goalkeeper
Erin Grabeel tallied one stop in goal, while UNCP's goalkeeper Anna Bass recorded three saves.
With four shots on goal, Francis Marion outshot the Braves 8-4. Leading in shots was Davé and freshman midfielder
Nalani Hunt with two each and four other Patriots registered one shot apiece.
Both teams went scoreless for the first half, despite scoring opportunities by junior forward
Kristina Syragakis and freshman midfielder
Nalani Hunt. Syragakis miss-fired from 16 yards out at the 4:31 mark. In the 40th minute, Syragakis sent a through ball to Hunt, but her shot from 18 yards out on the right side sailed over the cross bar.
At the 47:05 minute mark, senior midfielder
Le'Landra Jarvis dribbled towards the endline while drawing her defender. As the ball was crossed in by Jarvis it deflected off a UNCP defender to give Davé a wide-open shot into the top right of the netting for a 1-0 lead. Davé now has five goals for the 2024 season, following Syragakis who has 11.
Sarah Bonifant scored the equalizing goal only eight minutes later. Her goal delivered to her on a 40-yard free kick by Anna Grossheim. UNCP is now 6-2-3 overall and 5-0-3 in conference play.
The Patriots had several opportunities to steal a win in the final 10 minutes. Senior
JG Garon was high on a 20-yard attempt that followed a Syragakis short corner kick at 82:08. With less than six minutes to go, forward
Ashley Jordan dribbled through the Braves' defense and into the box, but her shot from 15 yards out and from a right angle sailed just outside the far post.
Francis Marion earned all four corner kicks that the match featured.
