MORROW, GA – Graduate student forward John Osadolor scored in the fifth minute and Francis Marion University would hand on to earn a 1-1 tie with 16th-ranked Clayton State University, Saturday afternoon (Sept. 7) in non-conference men's soccer action.
 
Francis Marion (0-1-1) will play its home opener on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against 20th-ranked Wingate University.
 
It marks the sixth time in his six seasons as head coach that Luis Rincon has guided the Patriots to a win or tie against a nationally ranked opponent.
 
Clayton State (1-0-1) led in shots 16-13 and both teams earned two corner kicks.
 
FMU graduate student goalkeeper Alberto Aragoneses Lablanca registered two saves, both of which came in the opening 45 minutes, while Laker keeper David Magada made five stops.
 
Osadolor gave FMU a quick 1-0 advantage at the 4:23 mark when he scored off an assist from graduate student midfielder Antonio Garda.  Osadolor also scored in the Patriots' season-opener on Thursday.
 
The margin still stood at 1-0 when the halftime whistle sounded.
 
Clayton State hit the crossbar early in the second half.  However, with 28 minutes left an FMU midfielder was issued a second yellow card and the Patriots played the remainder of the match with only 10 men.
 
Osadolor and Juan Salazar Lopez had chances to double the Francis Marion lead, but their attempts were denied by Magala in the 78th and 79th minutes.
 
Only one of the Lakers' 10 second-half shots was on frame and it came with 1:03 remaining when Jussi Gerbeding slotted a 10-yard shot into the Patriot goal for the equalizing goal.