MOUNT OLIVE, NC – The graduate student duo of defender Tim Wilkening and midfielder Filippo Noseda netted first-half goals in the regular-season finale, as Francis Marion University captured a 2-0 victory at the University of Mount Olive on Saturday night (Oct. 24) in Conference Carolinas men's soccer action.
With the win, the Patriots end their regular season with a 12-4-2 overall mark and an 8-3-1 record in conference play. Francis Marion secures its first win in Mount Olive, North Carolina, since 2023 and sweeps the season series in 2026. Meanwhile, the Trojans' season comes to a close with a 2-14-1 record and a 1-10-1 mark in league competition.
Francis Marion earned the No. 5 seed in the upcoming Conference Carolinas Tournament as the bracket was announced following the end of tonight's match. The Patriots will host an opening-round match against King University on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Hartzler Field with kickoff set for 6 p.m. The winner of that match will advance to the quarterfinals to face #4 Chowan University in Murfreesboro, N.C.
The Patriots controlled possession immediately and applied immense pressure in the attacking half of the pitch in the opening minutes of the first half. In the 11th minute, FMU played a short corner kick before senior forward Volkan Celikkol blasted a shot on goal, which was momentarily stopped by the Trojan keeper. Wilkening pounced on the loose ball at the far post and buried his first collegiate goal with the Patriots to take a 1-0 lead.
In the 20th minute, Celikkol was involved once again, sending a cross into the box from the left side, which was scored via a header by Noseda, his fourth goal of the year. Celikkol was credited with his team-leading seventh assist of 2026.
At the break, the Patriots held a significant 17-1 lead in total shots and a 5-3 edge in corner kicks.
Graduate student Vicent Sanchis was called into action during the second half, recording five saves on 11 shots faced. He helped the FMU defense secure the shutout win and claim his seventh clean sheet of the season.
FMU finished the contest with a 22-12 shot advantage and a 9-4 lead in corner kicks.
