DAHLONEGA, GA – A golden goal from graduate student forward
Tehya Dave' and an 11-save performance from sophomore goalkeeper
Emma Erickson propelled third-seeded Francis Marion University to a 2-1 overtime win over No. 6 seed Lenoir-Rhyne University in the first round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Southeast Regional on Friday (Nov. 13) at UNG Soccer Field on the campus of the University of North Georgia.
With the win, the Patriots (16-4-1) earn their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory and advance to the second round. Francis Marion will play the host #2 seed University of North Georgia on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. in Dahlonega, Ga. FMU avenged a regular-season loss to the Bears, with arguably the biggest moment in the 32-year history of the program.
The Bears (13-7-1), the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Tournament Champion, see their 2026 season come to a close after entering today's match on a nine-match unbeaten run.
Dave' scored the overtime winner in the 99th minute, her fifth game-winner of the season, and 33rd goal of her Patriot career to move to fifth all-time in program history.
Erickson made her first start at goalkeeper since Sept. 30 due to injury. She delivered a stellar performance with a career-high 11 saves on 18 shots faced in her first career postseason match.
Alongside Dave' and Erickson, graduate student midfielder
Camryn Bliss scored for the fourth time in her last five matches, and sophomore forward
Matea Bradfield registered assists on both goals.
The Bears immediately applied pressure in the opening minute of the contest, forcing an early corner kick. Erickson was called into action in the fifth minute as she made a diving stop at the near post after an LR shot from 15 yards out inside the right side of the box.
The Patriots countered with their best offensive chance of the first half as Dave' won a foot race to the ball and got around the goalkeeper. A slightly heavy touch allowed two LR defenders to recover and clear a shot from Dave' for a corner kick in the seventh minute.
Erickson would come up with three more saves in the first half, including closing out an attacking opportunity at the 34:19 mark to keep the contest scoreless.
At the break, the Bears held a 5-2 edge in total shots and a 3-1 lead in corner kicks.
In the second half, the Patriots would draw first blood after a corner kick into the box by Bradfield deflected off Bliss into the back of the net for her sixth goal of the year in the 65th minute.
The Bears would answer back just under 10 minutes later at the 74:01 mark, as a pair of failed clearance attempts eventually found their way to the foot of Katie Durham at the top of the box, who scored into the bottom left corner of the net to tie the game at 1-1.
Erickson made four massive saves in the closing 15 minutes of regulation, none bigger than her stop at the 75:40 off a header directly in front of goal by Alexis Cagno.
Lenoir-Rhyne continues to pressure the goal through a majority of the first overtime period, but it was the Patriots who came out triumphant. A goal kick from Erickson cleared the LR defense and was brought in by Bradfield, who delivered a quick pass to Dave'. She powered a right-footed shot under the charging goalkeeper for her 11th goal of the season, 2-1.
The Bears finished with an 18-8 shot advantage and a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.
