BROWNS SUMMIT, NC – Graduate student forward
John Osadolor scored in the third minute and the Francis Marion University defense made that goal stand up as the Patriots claimed the Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Tournament championship with a 1-0 victory over top-seeded Chowan University, Sunday evening (Nov. 17).
Francis Marion, now 10-5-6, earns its fourth-ever NCAA Tournament bid and the second in six seasons under head coach
Luis Rincon. The Patriots, who now await the announcement of the national tournament field on Monday night at 6:30 p.m., capture their fourth-ever tournament title and first in Conference Carolinas.
FMU All-Conference forward
Juan Salazar Lopez corralled a short clearance by the Chowan backline and fed a pass to Osadolor for his successful 17-yard left-footed shot to the right side of goal at the 2:30 mark. Osadolor was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
Joining Osadolor on the All-Tournament Team from FMU were midfielder
Martin Juanche Gomez, defender
Hallvard Boehn, midfielder
Camilo Salazar, and goalkeeper
Alberto Aragoneses Lablanca.
Francis Marion outshot the Hawks 12-2 and led 5-4 in corner kicks. Neither of the Chowan attempts were on frame meaning that the Patriot defense did not allow a single shot on goal during 200 combined minutes in the semifinals and championship.
After the early goal, Francis Marion threatened twice later in the stanza when
Mario Buelga was high on a shot from 21 yards in the 20th minute and
Antonio Garda, seeing Chowan goalkeeper Chase Jansen off his line, was wide on a shot from near midfield in the 41st minute.
Osadolor was wide on a header early in the second half (42:25) and Salazar Lopez missed on a shot at 63:22. That second opportunity was born of a long driving run by
Camilo Salazar following a service over the top.
Osadolor and forward
Edorta Cabieces combined on an opportunity in the 71st minute, but Osadolor was just high with his 18-yard attempt.
Chowan had a tying score by forward Junior Smith waived off in the 81st minute when the offside flag went up.
Jansen finished with one save – that coming an a shot by Cabieces in the 78th minute.
