WILSON, NC – Graduate student forward Matteo Benistant scored a goal in each half to propel Francis Marion University to a 3-0 road win at Barton College, Wednesday night (Oct. 1) in Conference Carolinas men's soccer play.
 
Francis Marion improves to 3-2-3 overall and remains unbeaten in conference action at 3-0-2.  The Patriots will host Young Harris College on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. kick-off as the FMU program celebrates 50 years of men's soccer.
 
Senior Ian Milla made his first start of 2025 in goal for the Patriots and recorded the shutout by making a career-high seven saves.  He also posted a clean sheet against the Bulldogs in Wilson last season.
 
Benistant gave FMU a 1-0 advantage by converting a penalty kick at the 22:29 mark.  His score followed a foul on Barton in the far-outer left corner of the box.  His attempt from the spot slid past the arms of Bulldog goalkeeper Alejandro Sepulveda and into the right-side netting of the goal.
 
Midfielder Antonio Garda's 18-yard shot, from roughly the same spot where the penalty kick foul occurred, found the back of the net at 39:30 to double the Patriot margin to 2-0.
 
Midfielder Juan Betancurt corralled a second ball near midfield after a goal kick and fed a pass to Benistant for the final score with 10:45 remaining.  Benistant's shot was a left-footed attempt from near the top of the penalty area.
 
FMU outshot Barton 20-15, while the Bulldogs led in corner kicks 9-4.  Forward Elian Aguilar Valencia led Francis Marion with seven shots, while both Benistant and Garda had five attempts each.