MARS HILL, NC – Eighth-seeded Mars Hill University advanced past ninth-seeded Francis Marion University 5-3 in a penalty kick shootout after regulation ended deadlocked 0-0, Friday evening (Nov. 22) in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Southeast Regional.
Francis Marion, making its fourth-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, sees its season end at 10-5-7. The Patriots captured the Conference Carolinas East Division crown and the conference tournament title this year, head coach
Luis Rincon's sixth campaign leading FMU.
FMU outshot Mars Hill 18-15 and held a commanding 11-3 advantage in corner kicks. Despite not advancing, Francis Marion ends the season not having allowed a goal in the last 403:58, the fourth longest streak in program history.
Patriot goalkeeper
Alberto Aragoneses Lablanca recorded five saves, while Lions' keeper Logan Cassel registered nine stops.
After 110 minutes – regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods – did not produce a goal, the two teams went to penalty kicks with the Lions shooting first. FMU forward
Edorta Cabieces and All-Conference midfielder
Mario Buelga both converted their attempts and after two rounds it was even at 2-2.
Cassel came up with a save in the third round, and after FMU All-Conference forward
Juan Salazar Lopez scored on his attempt, Mars Hill led 4-3 heading to the fifth round. The Lions' Peter Plougmand, the nation's leading goal scorer, then slotted his shot on the ground toward the right corner. Aragoneses Lablanca got a hand on the ball but was unable to keep it from crossing the goal line to produce the deciding goal.
During play, Cabieces led the Patriots with seven shots, five of which forced saves by Cassel in the eighth, 16th, 29th, 76th and 89th minutes. Several of the stops were diving saves on the frigid artificial turf. With snow on the sidelines, game-time temperatures were in the mid 30's.
Cabieces also combined with Salazar Lopez on an opportunity in the 75th minute, but the latter's 12-yard shot sailed outside the right post.
Aragoneses Lablanca kept the match scoreless in the 73rd minute with two excellent saves within a 10-second span.
Rincon will lose eight seniors off this year's Patriot roster.
