BRISTOL, TN – Junior Daniel Miranda scored a tap-in goal with 10:10 remaining and Francis Marion University survived a late scoring threat to capture a 2-1 road win over King University (Tenn.), Saturday afternoon (Oct. 11) in Conference Carolinas men's soccer action.
 
Francis Marion improves to 4-3-3 overall and 4-1-2 in conference play.  The Patriots will play host to Barton College on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
 
Miranda's score came when senior forward Elian Aguilar Valencia sent a through ball to senior forward Juan Herrera in the left side of the penalty area.  Herrera played the ball across the mouth of the goal and off a defender's foot to Miranda who then tapped it in from two yards out.
 
King looked to salvage a tie in the closing seconds when Anderson Moore came crashing into the six-yard box on a service from midfield.  He got his head on the ball and it went into the goal as time expired, but Moore was called for a foul against FMU goalkeeper Juan Antonio Tripero Sanchez allowing the Patriots to escape with the victory.
 
FMU forward Matteo Benistant dribbled through five King defenders to slot a six-yard shot just inside the left post for a 1-0 Patriot advantage at the 5:30 mark.  It was his team-leading fourth goal of the year.
 
The first half featured only six combined shots, of which only Benistant's attempt was on frame.
 
Tripero Sanchez turned away a Tornado shot in the 54th minute for his only save of the contest, but King later knotted the score at 1-1 in the 67th minute when Jadon Morgan scored off an assist from Noah Adler.
 
Benistant led Francis Marion with four shots, including two that forced saves by King goalkeeper Gavin Roux in the 77th and 78th minutes.
 
Francis Marion outshot King 9-7, while the Tornado held a 6-5 edge in corner kicks.