FLORENCE, SC – Nursing a 1-0 halftime lead, top-seeded Francis Marion University allowed a pair of second-half goals and fell 2-1 to eighth-seeded Lees-McRae College, Saturday night (Nov. 8) in the quarterfinals of the Conference Carolinas men's soccer Tournament.
 
Francis Marion ends its season with an 8-4-5 overall mark after winning the East Division crown.  Lees-McRae (6-5-7) advances to Thursday's tournament semifinals.
 
Francis Marion outshot the Bobcats 13-10, while both teams earned four corner kicks.
 
Francis Marion senior goalkeeper Ian Milla, an All-Conference selection, recorded three saves, while Bobcat keeper Sean Green made six stops.
 
FMU took a 1-0 advantage at the 22:13 mark when All-Conference midfielder Antonio Garda fed a through ball to the left side of the penalty box.  All-Conference forward Elian Aguilar Valencia received the ball and converted a 13-yard left-footed shot into the far-side netting.
 
The Patriots looked to double their advantage in the 44th minute, but came up empty on two shots.  Senior Deion Miller had his shot in the box stopped by Green, and the rebound went to Inaki Solabarrieta, who's header was pushed away from the goal by Green.
 
The two Bobcat scores came within a four-minute span of the second half.  Jonas Bartelt headed a shot near the penalty spot over a leaping Milla in the 74th minute and, following a quick re-start after an FMU foul, Bartelt assisted on a 12-yard shot by Conor O'Gorman at 77:30.
 
Francis Marion registered three more shots on goal in attempt to find the equalizer, but Green denied Edgar Zuber in the 79th minute, Juan Betancurt in the 83rd minute, and Garda in the 90th minute.
 
With 21.2 seconds remaining, FMU was awarded an indirect free kick inside the Bobcat penalty area.  The ball was served toward the goal where Milla – up for the final play – lifted a shot that sailed over the crossbar.