MELBOURNE, FL – Sophomore
Byron Mitchell had his signature FMU moment after scoring the game-winning goal in the 76th minute on Saturday (Oct. 10), as #10-ranked Francis Marion University earned the 2-1 victory at Florida Tech in a non-conference Super Region 2 men's soccer contest.
The Patriots add another quality win to their NCAA resume with just four conference games remaining ahead of the postseason. Francis Marion boasts an impressive 11-2-1 overall record with a 5-1 mark on the road. Meanwhile, the Panthers of the Sunshine State Conference (SSC), who were receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll, drop to 6-3-3 this season with a 4-2-2 record at Rick Stottler Field.
The Patriots return to Hartzler Field on Wednesday, Oct. 14, to face Chowan University in divisional play at 7 p.m.
Both teams managed to pressure in the offensive half in the opening 25-plus minutes of the match, with each goalkeeper forced to make multiple saves. At the 32:30 mark, graduate student defender
Valentin Fritz delivered a cross into the box, which resulted in a loose ball from a deflection. Fellow graduate student midfielder
Filippo Noseda pounced on the opportunity and scored at the far post into the bottom right corner, his third goal of the year, 1-0.
At the break, the Panthers held a 6-5 edge in total shots and a 6-2 lead in corner kicks.
Florida Tech controlled possession in the opening minutes of the second half, recording four shots (one on goal) and two corner kicks. The Panthers found their equalizer in the 70th minute off a short corner kick, which resulted in a goal for Alvaro Ivorra Ronda, who redirected it into the net off an initial header by Daniele Aracri, 1-1.
In the 76th minute, graduate student midfielder
Adrian Braojos delivered a pass to senior forward
Volkan Celikkol. He shook off his defender and crossed into the six-yard box. Mitchell gathered the pass and made one touch before belting it into the top-right corner of the net for his first collegiate goal, 2-1.
The Patriot defense would not allow another shot on goal in the final 14 minutes to seal the win.
Graduate student goalkeeper
Vicent Sanchis registered three saves on 13 shots faced in 90 minutes between the posts.
Florida Tech finished with a 13-9 shot advantage and a 12-3 lead in corner kicks.
