BROWNS SUMMIT, NC – Senior All-Conference defender
JG Garon scored on a 4-yard rebound shot with 50.1 seconds left to hand third-seed Francis Marion University a 2-1 upset win over second-seeded UNC Pembroke, Friday evening (Nov. 15) in the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer Tournament.
The Patriots (11-2-4) advance to the championship match against Belmont Abbey College set to take place on Sunday (Nov. 17) at 1 p.m. in Browns Summit, N.C. This will be the Patriots' first title match appearance since FMU moved to Conference Carolinas membership four years ago.
Belmont Abbey defeated top-seeded Lees-McRae College 4-2 in penalty kicks after regulation ended in a 0-0 deadlock in Friday's first semifinal.
In the third minute, Patriot senior midfielder
Haley Sink sent a long ball into the box that UNCP goalkeeper Anna Bass chased down and blocked, but the ball ricocheted to junior All-Conference forward Tehya Davé who slotted an 18-yard shot into the open goal for a 1-0 advantage.
Francis Marion held the 1-0 lead until the 71st minute when Anna Grossheim scored the equalizer goal on her own corner kick to knot the score at 1-1.
Both teams battled back and forth for the lead with multiple scoring opportunities, but Francis Marion would be the first to land a shot in goal.
Inside the final minute, the Patriots made one final attempt to overtake the Braves. Junior All-Conference forward
Kristina Syragakis broke past her two defenders to take a 10-yard shot that rebounded off Bass. Garon, who was running up the backside of the field, was able to score the game-winning goal into an open net.
FMU sophomore goalkeeper
Erin Grabeel recorded a career-high eight saves, while playing all 90 minutes. Bass tallied six saves.
Dave' and Garon paced Francis Marion with three shots apiece, and two shots on goal each. Senior All-Conference forward
Ashley Jordan (2), senior midfielder
Le'Landra Jarvis (2), and Syragakis (2) combined for another six shots against the Braves (9-4-4).
Each of the previous five meetings between FMU and UNCP ended in ties.
The Patriots held a one-shot advantage, taking 15 shots with eight on frame and UNC Pembroke took 14 shots with nine on goal. UNCP held a 6-2 edge in corner kicks.
