FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University graduate student midfielder Othmane Karoumi scored on a 23-yard blast in the 64th minute, but a tying goal with 7.2 seconds remaining left the Patriots with a season-opening 1-1 draw against the University of Montevallo, Thursday evening (Sept. 4) in men's college soccer action.
 
Francis Marion will host Catawba College (0-1-0) on Saturday at 6 p.m. on Hartzler Field.
 
The Patriots outshot the Falcons 13-8 and held a slim 5-4 edge in corner kicks.
 
FMU graduate student goalkeeper Juan Antonio Tripero Sanchez registered one save in his Patriot debut, while Montevallo junior Andre Etcheverry made four stops for the Falcons.
 
The opening 10-plus minutes of the contest was a stalemate as both sides battled for position on the field. The Patriots managed to control possession over the next five minutes as senior Toufik Najem registered the opening shot, which sailed over the goal. Francis Marion recorded a shot on goal in the 23rd minute as senior David Guevara saw his header saved at the far post off a short corner kick.
 
Nearly 10 minutes later, senior Elian Aguilar Valencia peppered a shot from 20-yards out, which was saved by the diving goalkeeper. The Falcons saw the best opportunity in the first half after a cross in the box was deflected off the left post to keep the contest scoreless. At the break, the Patriots held a 5-3 edge while boasting a 5-1 lead in corner kicks.
 
The second half started with the Patriots threatening to break the deadlock.  Aguilar Valencia was just wide on a 35-yard attempt at 46:27, senior Edgar Zuber was high on his 13-yard shot at 50:39, and graduate student midfielder Antonio Garda was wide on a long attempt at 53:36.
 
Karoumi's score came at the 63:25 mark.  He received a pass from midfielder Mario Buelga, took a one-touch to avoid a defender, and then hammered home a 23-yard shot.
 
Tripero Sanchez came up with his one save 30 seconds later to deny Montevallo's Dakota Hart on a point-blank shot in the box.   An offside call later denied a tying goal by the Falcons in the 76th minute.
 
FMU's Matteo Benistant had his 17-yard shot glance off the crossbar and over for a goal kick at 81:50.
 
The Falcons tallied their score with 7.2 seconds left on a long throw-in deep in their offensive end.  The throw was deflected by a Patriot defender to Falcon senior Will Mashburn who guided a 14-yard shot into the upper right corner of the Patriot goal.