MURFREESBORO, NC – Francis Marion University battled to a 0-0 road tie at Chowan University on Saturday night (Nov. 1) in Conference Carolinas men's soccer play and in the process earned the outright East Division championship and top seed in the upcoming conference tournament.
 
Francis Marion ends its regular season with an 8-3-5 overall mark and an 8-1-3 mark in conference play.  FMU has won the East Division crown each of the three years it has been awarded.  Chowan drops to 9-3-4 and 7-2-3.
 
FMU will host a quarterfinal tournament match on Saturday, Nov. 8, at a time yet to be determined against the (#8) Lees-McRae College/(#9) Belmont Abbey College winner.
 
Chowan held a slight edge in shots 12-10, but each team registered three shots on goal, while the Patriots led 6-3 in corner kicks.
 
Francis Marion senior goalkeeper Ian Milla recorded three saves as did Chowan's Lucas Kibraya.
 
Patriot junior midfielder Marc Hernandez registered the only shot on frame in the opening 45 minutes, but his 23-yard attempt from outside the top of the penalty area was snagged by Kibraya near the left post.
 
Milla came up with a stop of a shot by Chowan's Bradley Williams only 2:40 into the second stanza.
 
FMU defender Mathis Magat forced a save by Kibraya in the 62nd minute and midfielder Mario Buelga also put an unsuccessful shot on frame in the 65th minute.
 
Milla also made saves in the 89th and 90th minutes on hard-struck balls, but shots that went directly at him.  Patriot forward Matteo Benistant had the final scoring opportunity of the match as he dribbled into the 6-yard box, but Kibraya got a touch on the ball before Benistant could get a shot off as the final seconds clicked away.
 
Francis Marion and Chowan battled to a 1-1 deadlock earlier this season in Florence.