MOUNT OLIVE, NC – Graduate student midfielder
Camryn Bliss was the hero for Francis Marion University as it secured the 1-0 victory over the University of Mount Olive in the final match of the regular season at Amon Field on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 24) in an East Division women's soccer Conference Carolinas clash.
With the win, the Patriots improve their overall record to 12-4-1 with a 10-2-1 mark in conference play. Meanwhile, the Trojans' overall record falls to 6-6-6 and 4-3-6.
Francis Marion secured the No. 2 seed in the Conference Carolinas Tournament and will receive a first-round bye. The Patriots will host a quarterfinal tournament match on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. against the (#7) Barton College/(#10) Emmanuel University winner.
Key players that factored into today's victory included Bliss, graduate student forward
Tehya Dave', and senior forward
Chloe Pfaff. Although Dave' and Pfaff did not contribute to the score, they both created an offensive threat against the UMO backline and sparked the FMU offense.
Freshman forward
Ryleigh Ackermann made her first collegiate start alongside her goalkeeping debut in today's match, recording two saves.
The Patriots earned a penalty kick in the 13th minute as a shot from Dave' which was heading into the back of the net was stopped by a UMO defender via a handball.
Senior defender
Joy Brockmann stepped up to take a penalty kick at the 12:02 mark, but her initial attempt was denied by the Trojans' goalkeeper. Bliss stayed alert and pounced on the loose ball, finishing the rebound into the right corner of the net to give the Patriots the lead, 1-0
Francis Marion was in the driver's seat for the remainder of the game. Neither side managed to score in the second half despite a tightly contested game.
The Patriots had 15 total shots, seven on goal, while the Trojans put up five total shots, two on goal. Corner kicks came few and far between in this match, where FMU held a 4-0 advantage.
