WILSON, NC – Behind goals from freshman forward
Davynn Godshall and senior forward
Tehya Dave', the #21 ranked Francis Marion University women's soccer program extended its winning streak with a 2-0 shutout victory at Barton College on Wednesday evening (Oct. 1) in Conference Carolinas play.
The Patriots improve to an impressive 7-0-0 overall with a 5-0-0 record in league play. The 2025 start for FMU is the second-best in program history, sitting only behind the 1997 team, which started 9-0-0. Francis Marion returns to Hartzler Field on Saturday, Oct. 4, with a matchup scheduled versus Young Harris at 1 p.m.
The contest was a stalemate through the opening 15-plus minutes as both sides battled for possession. The Patriots were able to record a shot on goal off a corner kick in the 18th minute before recording two additional shots, which missed the mark. Sophomore midfielder
Nalani Hunt had one of the best scoring opportunities of the first half after a one-on-one chance was saved by Barton goalkeeper Lily Diedrich at the 27:49 mark. Francis Marion found its breakthrough in the 41st minute as Godshall received a cross from N. Hunt and buried it into the bottom left corner to take a 1-0 lead. The Patriots nearly added to their lead under two minutes later after a shot from Godshall in front of the goal was saved by the Bulldogs. At the break, FMU held an 8-1 advantage in shots while boasting a 5-0 lead in corner kicks.
Francis Marion immediately pressured the offensive end in search of a second goal after recording six shots, including three on goal, in the initial 10 minutes of the second half. The Patriots would add to their lead in the 62nd minute on the counterattack after a quick back and forth by Dave' and freshman midfielder
Madeline Ballard resulted in Dave' beating the keeper at the near post, 2-0. Francis Marion maintained possession for the final 30 minutes of the match and only surrendered one shot in the second half.
Junior goalkeeper
Erin Grabeel collected her fifth clean sheet of the season after facing just two shots in the contest. She extended her scoreless streak in goal to 464:15, the second-longest streak in program history behind only a 483:38 mark by Jacque Sutphin in 2006. Grabeel is the conference's reigning Defensive Player of the Week.
The Patriots finished with a 23-2 shot advantage while boasting a 6-1 edge in corner kicks.
