FLORENCE, SC – All-Conference forward John Osadolor scored the winning goal in the 19th minute and third-seeded Francis Marion University held off a frantic second-half rally by seventh-seeded University of Mount Olive for a 1-0 victory, Sunday evening (Nov. 10) in the quarterfinals of the Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Tournament.
 
Francis Marion improves to 9-5-5 and advances to face second-seeded Converse University in the semifinal round on Friday (Nov. 15) at 7:45 p.m. at the Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park in Browns Summit, N.C.  The Patriots, under the direction of head coach Luis Rincon, have reached the semifinals in all three seasons since FMU joined the conference.
 
Osadolor took a pass from sophomore midfielder Camilo Salazar and converted a 19-yard shot that snuck just inside the right post at the 18:13 mark for the match's only score.
 
FMU junior goalkeeper Ian Milla was issued a red card for a tackle outside the penalty area in the 48th minute so the Patriots played a man down for the final 42:31.
 
To that point, Mount Olive (4-7-5) has recorded only two shots, both of which were not on goal.  The Trojans registered 10 shots, three on target, over the remainder of the contest.
 
Graduate student Alberto Aragoneses Lablanca, who started 11 matches earlier this season, came on to play in goal for the Patriots.  He made three stops, including denying the Trojans' best scoring opportunity.  He pushed a header by UMO's Greg Boko from six yards out over the crossbar in the 69th minute.  His other saves came in the 48th (following the free kick after the red card foul) and in the 72nd minutes.
 
Both teams recorded 12 shots over the 90 minutes and FMU led in corner kicks 5-3.  Osadolor and All-Conference midfielder Antonio Garda led the Patriots with three shots apiece.
 
Mount Olive goalkeeper Michael Deleo tallied four saves.
 
In the opening half, Francis Marion had two opportunities to improve upon the 1-0 advantage.  Junior forward Juan Herrera had a shot in the six-yard box, but skied it over the crossbar at 23:55.  Forward Edorta Cabieces and midfielder Andre Sabino combined on a give-and-go sequence in the box in the 35th minute, but Cabieces' shot was high and wide to the left.
 
Osadolor nearly scored his second goal in the second half.  He controlled a long clearance and raced toward the Trojan goal, but was denied by Deleo at 59:05.  On the ensuing corner kick, his header also missed the target.