DUE WEST, SC – Surging Francis Marion University scored three goals, while its defense led by senior goalkeeper Ian Milla produced a clean sheet as the Patriots won 3-0 at Erskine College, Saturday afternoon (Oct. 25) in Conference Carolinas men's soccer action.
 
Francis Marion improves to 8-3-3 with its fifth straight victory, while also moving to 8-1-2 in conference play.
 
The Patriots will play their final regular-season home match on Wednesday, hosting Lenoir-Rhyne University at 7 p.m. on Hartzler Field.
 
Milla, making his fourth start of the five-game winning streak, produced three saves and posted his second shutout of the recent streak, third of the season, and fourth of his FMU career.  The stops all came with the decision in the balance, in the fifth, 46th, and 58th minutes.
 
Redshirt-junior forward Elian Aguilar Valencia gave FMU a 1-0 advantage at the 7:46 mark with his fourth score of the season.  Senior defender David Guevara sent a bouncing service near the top of the penalty area, where fellow defender Mathis Magat headed the ball toward the Patriot goal and Aguilar Valencia gained control to the left of the penalty spot and knocked home a 10-yard left-footed shot.
 
Red-shirt reserve forward Iñaki Solabarrieta doubled the margin to 2-0 at 39:30 with a rebound goal, his first score as a Patriot.  Midfielder Daniel Miranda won control of the ball near the right sideline and dribbled into the penalty area where he crossed the ball to Solabarrieta at the mouth of the goal.  Erskine goalkeeper Owen Emeleus stopped Solabarrieta's first attempt, but not his second.
 
Patriot forward Matteo Benistant accounted for the final score after he was fouled in the box at the 65:36 mark.  He stepped to the penalty spot and drove a left-footed shot into the left side of the Flying Fleet goal for his team-leading seventh goal of 2025.
 
The Patriots outshot Erskine 20-8, including seven shots recorded by players coming off the bench, while also leading 9-5 in corner kicks.