The Francis Marion University men's soccer team will open its 2025 campaign on Thursday (Sept. 4) at 7 p.m. with a home match the University of Montevallo.

The opening contest begins a three-match homestand for the Patriots.  Admission to the Griffin Athletic Complex is $10 for adults and $5 for students with FMU students being admitted free with identification.

FMU will play a 17-match regular-season schedule that includes 10 home contests on Hartzler Field, where the Patriots have won 36 of its last 61 matches.

Francis Marion was recently picked as the preseason favorite in the 2025 Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll.  The Patriots are also listed among the other schools receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches preseason Top 25 poll.

Seventh-year Francis Marion head coach Luis Rincon returns six lettermen, including five starters, from last year's 10-5-7 squad that went 6-3-2 in conference play, won the 2024 East Division title, captured the conference tournament championship, and earned the program's fourth-ever NCAA National Tournament bid.

Rincon owns a .656 winning percentage in nine seasons as a head coach, including a 57-28-25 mark on the FMU bench.

"Montevallo is normally a quality side and will provide a good test for us to open the 2025 campaign," Rincon said.

"The key for us to have a successful season is to maintain team comradery.  We must believe in each other and in the structure and system we run.  The style of play we use needs chemistry, and is developed through repetition.  We want to possess and control the ball.  With more than 20 newcomers this season, that style can only be honed through discipline play and players getting to know each other."

"We have a good core of returnees from last year, who own the experience of knowing what it takes to win the conference final and get to the NCAAs.  I feel that we have an athletic squad, and that we have newcomers in particular positions that will address needs that we faced last season."

"We have had a good preseason, with three scrimmages and three weeks of training.  I am happy with the group and the progress we have made, but we are still far from where we want to be."

When asked about being picked No.1 in the preseason poll, Rincon responded, "It is great for publicity, and nice recognition for what we accomplished last year, but this is a new year.  We will need to make adjustments in our line-up and we need to stay hungry to win."

Among the returnees are a pair of All-Region selections in graduate student midfielder Mario Buelga and senior defender David Guevara. Buelga tallied five goals and four assists for the Patriots in 21 matches last season, while Guevara returns as the senior leader along the backline after starting 36 matches over the past two seasons.

Graduate student midfielder Antonio Garda also returns after a 2024 season that saw him register a team-leading six assists and garnering third-team All-Conference honors.
Senior Ian Milla returns in goal for the FMU after delivering a 5-2-1 record with a 0.93 goals against average and 20 saves in eight starts during 2024.

As a team, Francis Marion allowed only 23 goals in 22 matches last season, surrendered only 3.5 shots on goal per match, and posted six shutouts.

Regarding the goalkeeper position, Rincon said that Milla and newcomer Juan Antonio Tripero Sanchez are in a close battle for the starting nod.  "I feel comfortable with either in goal, but we are still determining who will start the opener."

As far as scoring goals, Rincon pointed to newcomers Matteo Benistant, Elian Aguilar Valencia, and Toufik Najem.  "All three have proven in the scrimmages and preseason training that they have the ability to put the ball in the back of the net.

"In the midfield, we will look to Garda, Buelga, and senior returner Juan Herrera to distribute the ball.  Returnee Juan Betancurt (a year under his belt in our system and a good spring season) and newcomer Othmane Karoumi (good preseason showing) will also be looked at to contribute in the midfield.

"Defensively, Guevara will likely be joined along the backline by three newcomers who are all older, experienced, and have played against high-level competition in the past: Tim Wilkening, Nathan Belazri Berthon, and Mathis Magat."

Conference play begins on Sept. 13 when the Patriots entertain Chowan University at 7 p.m.  The first two rounds of the conference tournament will take place on campus sites at the higher seeds on Nov. 5 and 8, while the semifinals and championship contests on Nov. 13 and 15 respectively, will again be played at Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park in Browns Summit, N.C.