FLORENCE, SC – After surrendering a pair of second-half goals on Wednesday night (Oct. 14), #7-ranked Francis Marion University fell by a 2-0 margin to Chowan University in Conference Carolinas men's soccer divisional action at Hartzler Field.
With the loss, the Patriots drop to 11-3-1 overall with a 7-2 mark in conference play. Francis Marion remains atop the East Division standings with a 4-1 mark while Chowan sits second with a 4-2 record. Meanwhile, the Hawks improve to 7-4-2 this season with a 6-3 record in league competition.
Francis Marion returns to Hartzler Field on Saturday, Oct. 17, to celebrate Senior Day in the home regular season finale against Ferrum College at 4:30 p.m.
The first half was a stalemate between the highly competitive programs as both sides battled for possession. The best scoring opportunity of the first half was a one-on-one shot by William Bradley of Chowan, which was saved by graduate student goalkeeper
Vicent Sanchis at the 25:45 mark.
At the break, the Hawks held a 6-5 edge in total shots and a 3-1 lead in corner kicks.
Chowan quickly grabbed the lead in the opening moments of the second half as Thomas Mills scored off a rebound in the 49th minute from an initial shot by teammate Dillon Rajkovic, which had been saved, 1-0.
At the 74:21 mark, the Hawks added an insurance goal as the Patriot goalkeeper made a miscue challenging for the ball, which allowed Fernando Hernandez to convert a wide-open shot from 25 yards out, 2-0.
FMU managed its only shot on goal of the contest in the 85th minute, which was stopped by the Chowan goalkeeper.
Sanchis tallied four saves on 12 shots faced in 90 minutes between the posts.
Francis Marion finished with a 14-12 advantage in shots while Chowan held an 8-3 lead in corner kicks.
