FLORENCE, SC – Junior forward
Kristina Syragakis recorded her first collegiate hat trick as Francis Marion University defeated Southern Wesleyan University 4-0 in Conference Carolinas league action on Saturday (Sept. 14) afternoon.
The Patriots (1-1-1) start their conference slate 1-0 and look to advance to 2-0 as they take on I-95 rival and reigning 2024 Conference Carolinas champions UNC Pembroke on Wednesday (Sept. 18). Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. in Pembroke, NC.
FMU sophomore goalkeeper
Erin Grabeel totaled 69:30 minutes in the goal with three stops, earning her first win of the season. Junior goalkeeper
Emily Casey finished the remaining 20:30 minutes in goal. Southern Wesleyan's Amanda Magnin played all 90 minutes in the frame and recorded 11 saves.
Francis Marion led the Warriors in shots by double digits, outshooting Southern Wesleyan 24-3 with 15 shots on goal. Syragakis and senior midfielder
Ashley Jordan each had five shots, combining for just under half the total shots. The Patriots also held the advantage in corner kicks as they took seven to the Warriors' one.
In just under four minutes, Francis Marion led 1-0 as sophomore defender
Joy Brockmann dropped a pass directly behind SWU's defensive line at the feet of Syragakis who then slipped the ball past Magnin and into the goal.
The remainder of the half went scoreless for both teams despite the Patriots having multiple attempts to increase the margin with 10 shots. SWU's best scoring opportunity came at 25:40 when midfielder Fianna Steves a pass in the 6-yard box, but Grabeel came up with the point-blank save.
The Patriots' second goal came only 31 seconds into the second half. Syragakis took a cross from Jordan in the box and connected on a 9-yard shot. Junior forward Tehya Davé also scored her first goal as a Patriot, knocking a loose ball into the top right corner for a 3-0 lead at the 62:42 mark.
Francis Marion's final goal was the result of a handball in the penalty area, allowing Syragakis to complete her hat trick for the night – the first by a Patriot since Megan Misuraca scored three times against Columbia College in 2018. Syragakis is now 6-for-6 from the penalty spot in her two seasons at Francis Marion.
