FLORENCE, SC – The heavy rain had its own agenda on Hartzler Field as Francis Marion University fell by a 3-2 margin against rival UNC Pembroke in an East Division Conference Carolinas matchup on Saturday (Oct. 10). Despite a pair of second-half goals by FMU, the Braves broke through with a header off a free kick to score in the 88th minute.
The six-match win streak comes to an end as Francis Marion falls to 9-4 overall, 7-2 in conference. Meanwhile, UNC Pembroke improves to 8-1-4 overall, 7-0-3 in league play, and takes a four-point lead in the division standings.
FMU's next matchup is Chowan University at home on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 4:30 p.m.
UNCP's Willow Price netted a first-half brace with goals in the 22nd and 34th minutes to give the Braves a 2-0 edge heading into halftime.
A sense of urgency was found in the second half for the Patriots. Graduate student midfielder
Camryn Bliss and sophomore forward
Matea Bradfield gave FMU some much-needed life. After a UNC Pembroke miscue, Francis Marion sprang into action as graduate student forward
Tehya Dave' pressured the defense. Bradfield played the ball to Bliss, setting up a give-and-go with Dave'. She returned the ball to Bliss, who fired a shot into the high right corner in the 51st minute to record her second goal of the season.
Francis Marion struck again in the 53rd minute when Dave' was fouled inside the box, earning the Patriots a penalty kick. Bradfield stepped up to the spot and calmly beat the goalkeeper to even the score, 2-2.
As the clock wound down, tensions rose inside the Griffin Athletic Complex. In the 87th minute, a yellow card was issued to FMU after colliding with UNC Pembroke on an attempt to clear the ball. UNCP capitalized on the set piece, delivering a well-placed ball into the box where Aubrianna Martin headed it into the upper-right corner of the net at the 87:24 mark, 3-2.
Senior goalkeeper
Erin Grabeel recorded two saves on six shots faced against the Braves in 90 minutes of action.
Francis Marion held a 17-6 advantage in shots and outpaced UNC Pembroke 4-1 in corner kicks. However, the Braves committed just three fouls compared to nine by the Patriots.
