FLORENCE, SC – Erratic weather never slowed down the Senior Day festivities as the Francis Marion University women's soccer team defeated Ferrum College 4-0 on Saturday (Oct. 17) on Hartzler Field in an East Divisional matchup. Junior forward
Nalani Hunt led the Patriots' offensive attack with a brace, while sophomore forward
Matea Bradfield and junior forward
Isabella Fregoso also found the back of the net for FMU.
With the victory, FMU improves to 11-4 overall and 9-2 in league play. The Patriots move to 6-2 in the East Division, securing second place in the standings. Meanwhile, Ferrum falls to 2-12 overall with a 0-11 mark in conference play.
The next contest for FMU will take place at Barton College on Tuesday, Oct. 20, with a 5 p.m. kickoff.
Bradfield finished the contest with one goal, her team-leading 14th of the season, and one assist. Graduate student forward
Tehya Dave' added an assist, while Fregoso contributed a goal and an assist.
The Patriots opened the scoring at the 13:41 mark when Bradfield received a pass from Dave' on the right side of the pitch before delivering a cross into the box. N. Hunt met the ball with a header from six yards out, directing it into the upper-left corner of the net.
Just two minutes later, junior forward
Chloe Pfaff drove down the pitch and fired a shot that was initially stopped by the goalkeeper. It was déjà vu for N. Hunt as she collected the ensuing clearance attempt and launched a shot from 15 yards out into the bottom-left corner, recording her second goal of the day to put the Patriots ahead 2-0 in the 16th minute.
Francis Marion carried its momentum into the second half, extending its lead in the 48th minute. Dave' found Fregoso just outside the box, where she fired a shot into the lower-left corner of the net to extend FMU's lead to 3-0.
In the 72nd minute, freshman forward
Ryleigh Ackermann tracked down the loose ball and found Fregoso. The Prosper, TX native then passed it to Bradfield, who beat the last line of defense into the lower right corner to secure the 4-0 victory.
Graduate student midfielder
Camryn Bliss stepped up as the goalkeeper against Ferrum, garnering one save in 45 minutes while sophomore
Alena Lopez played the second half and helped deliver the combined shutout.
The Patriots held a 29-4 edge in shots against the Panthers, alongside an 8-0 advantage in corner kicks.
