FLORENCE, SC – Head Women's Soccer Coach
Sam Holmes secured his 100th career win on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 4), as #21 ranked Francis Marion University continued its unbeaten run with a 1-0 shutout victory over Young Harris at Hartzler Field in Conference Carolinas action.
The Patriots improve to 8-0-0 overall with a 6-0-0 record in conference play. Francis Marion continues its stellar run after entering the contests as one of only three NCAA Division II programs still left unbeaten and untied this year. FMU travels next Tuesday, Oct. 7, to UNC Pembroke for an East Division matchup set to kickoff at 5 p.m.
Holmes holds an impressive 100-36-12 (.716) overall record in nine seasons of coaching at the NCAA Division II level. He racked up 72 wins in six years at Limestone while boasting 28-9-8 mark with the Patriots.
Junior goalkeeper
Erin Grabeel achieved program history on Saturday with the longest shutout streak at FMU with 554:15 scoreless minutes. She surpasses the previous record of 483:38 set by Jacque Sutphin in 2006. Against Young Harris, Grabeel collected her seventh clean sheet of the season after facing four total shots in 90 minutes of play.
In the first half, Francis Marion registered two shots in the initial eight-plus minutes of the match before the Mountain Lions countered in the 11th minute with their first shot of the contest. Despite controlling possession for a majority of the first half, the Patriots were unable to find an opening goal in the initial 45 minutes. At the break, both sides were tied at three shots while Young Harris held a 1-0 edge in corner kicks.
The Patriots wasted little time to begin the second half after senior forward
Tehya Dave' found the back of the net for her team-leading fifth goal of the season at the 45:26 mark. Freshman
Cora Lepper powered past the YHC defense before playing a through ball to Dave', who beat the keeper at the near post from 10 yards out. Francis Marion continued their pressure offensively, tallying nine more shots, including seven on goal, before ultimately securing the 1-0 win.
FMU defensively delivered another outstanding performance and played back-to-back matches without allowing a shot on goal.
Francis Marion finished with a 13-4 advantage in shots while both sides recorded two corner kicks.
