FLORENCE, SC – Junior forward Juan Salazar Lopez scored in the first and 88th minutes to hand Francis Marion University a 2-1 win over the University of Mount Olive and give the Patriots the Conference Carolinas East Division crown, Saturday afternoon (Nov. 2) in men's soccer action.
 
Francis Marion concludes its regular season with an 8-5-5 overall record and a 6-3-2 conference mark.  The Patriots will wait for Monday night's announcement of the conference tournament bracket to see who, when, and where they will play next.
 
Salazar Lopez gave FMU a 1-0 advantage when he scored 19 seconds after kick-off, the fastest goal in program history.  Graduate student midfielder Antonio Garda assisted when he sent a short chip pass to the left post where Salazar Lopez headed it into the goal from three yards out. The previous record for fastest goal was 24 seconds by Michael Ritch at Barton College on Sept. 9, 1999. 
 
Minutes later, Garda crossed the ball to forward Edorta Cabieces in the penalty area, but he miss hit an attempt from within 10 yards.  Patriot senior midfielder Andre Sabino made a long run with the ball in the 19th minute, but his 16-yard shot from a tight left angle wandered just outside the right post.
 
Francis Marion allowed only two shots over the first 47 minutes, neither of which were on target.  FMU junior goalkeeper Ian Milla helped maintain the 1-0 margin with second-half saves in the 49th, 69th (a diving save of a header), and 85th minutes (scoop save of a bouncing 20-yard shot).
 
A fluffy in UMO's six-yard box during the 61st minute, saw defender David Guevara's header glance off the post and Juan Herrera's follow-up attempt was slapped away by Trojan goalkeeper Axel Engren.  Engren finished with three saves.
 
The Trojan registered the equalizing score with 3:58 remaining when Guilherme Semola blasted in a 17-yard shot.
 
The deadlock lasted only 1:23 as Salazar Lopez took a clearance from Garda, dribbled toward the box and slotted a 20-yard shot past Engren, who had left his line to come out and challenge for the ball.  Salazar Lopez is second on the team with seven goals this season.
 
Mount Olive (4-6-4, 3-4-4) did have one attempt to again tie the contest, but it was off target in the 89th minute.
 
Francis Marion outshot UMO 12-8 and led 6-2 in corner kicks.
 
As part of Senior Day festivities, the Patriots honored 11 players: Cabieces; Sabino;  forwards John Osadolor, Jhancarlo Palma, and Keita Chochi; midfielder Martin Juanche Gomez; and defenders Thomas Monayer, Owen Turner, Hallvard Boehn, Jaume Bonet, and Juan Sebastian Caballero.
 
FMU has won the East Division title in both seasons since the conference went to divisional play in 2023.