WILSON, NC – Senior forward
Chloe Pfaff scored the game-tying goal in the 81st minute, as Francis Marion University escaped with a 2-2 draw at Barton College on Tuesday evening (Oct. 20) in Conference Carolinas women's soccer divisional play.
With the tie, the Patriots stand at 11-4-1 overall with a 9-2-1 record in league competition. It marks the first draw for Francis Marion since a 1-1 tie at Emmanuel on Oct. 19, 2024. Following the contest, FMU sits two points behind UNC Pembroke in the East Division as the regular season wraps up at the end of the week. Meanwhile, Barton moves to 9-4-3 overall with a 6-3-3 mark in conference action.
The Patriots will close out the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 24, as they travel to face the University of Mount Olive at 4:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs established an early lead after scoring at the 6:56 mark off a corner kick. Macey Helmstetter delivered the ball into the box, where it was met by Lilly Moss at the far post and put into the back of the net, 1-0.
FMU would find its equalizer in the 35th minute as freshman midfielder
Ava Grieves passed a trio of Bulldog defenders before peppering a left-footed shot to the high center area of the goal past the leaping goalkeeper for her first collegiate goal, 1-1.
At the break, the Patriots held a 12-5 edge in shots and an 8-2 lead in corner kicks.
Despite FMU controlling possession and a majority of the goal-scoring opportunities in the second half, it was Barton who regained the lead in the 77th minute via a penalty kick.
Just four minutes later, the Patriots scored the game-tying goal as a cross from junior forward
Nalani Hunt settled at the far post and Pfaff netted her fourth goal of the year, 2-2.
Graduate student
Camryn Bliss logged her first 90-minute match as the goalie and collected one save on eight shots faced.
FMU finished the match with a 27-8 advantage in total shots and a 12-3 lead in corner kicks.
