PEMBROKE, NC – Graduate student forward Ashley Jordan tallied her first goal of the season for Francis Marion University on Wednesday (Sept. 18) night in a tight game against reigning 2023 Conference Carolinas champions, UNC Pembroke, to earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
 
Francis Marion (1-1-2, 1-0-1) continues conference league action this Saturday in Murfreesboro, N.C., against Chowan University. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m.
 
Jumping to an early lead only 14 minutes into the contest, UNCP's Maria Cancio slipped a header just past FMU sophomore goalkeeper Erin Grabeel for a 1-0 score.
 
UNC Pembroke led in shots 20-9.  Patriot junior forwards Kristina Syragakis and Tehya Davé combined for six shots and Jordan totaled two for the evening. The Patriots led in corner kicks, taking five to the Braves' one.
 
Sophomore midfielder Chloe Pfaff had an attempt to knot the game at 1-1 in the 61st minute as she drilled a shot from 30 yards away. The shot was kept out by Anna Bass and then deflected off the crossbar to keep the Braves holding on to their slim lead.
 
Thirty-two seconds later, Jordan did tally the equalizing score off an assist from senior Jordan White.
 
UNCP (1-2-1, 1-0-1) had a late opportunity to win the contest, but that was quickly snuffed out by Grabeel as she punched away what could have been a game-winning shot with 15 seconds left.
 
Grabeel recorded another 79:16 minutes in the frame, stopping six shots. Junior goalkeeper Emily Casey traded off with Grabeel for the final 10:44 minutes of the first half and registered one save.  Grabeel re-entered for the final 45 minutes.  Bass played the entirety of the game in goal for UNCP, and made six saves.