BROWNS SUMMIT, NC – A 20th-minute goal by senior forward
Volkan Celikkol and a six-save performance from graduate student goalkeeper
Vicent Sanchis guided fifth-seeded Francis Marion University to the championship match with a 1-0 shutout win over No. 8 seed Barton College in the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas Tournament at Bryan Park Truist Soccer Complex.
Francis Marion improves to 15-4-2 overall with an 8-2 mark on the road this year. The Patriots prevailed in the third meeting this season against their divisional foe Barton, with FMU securing two of the three games by one-goal victories. Francis Marion will compete for the Conference Carolinas Championship on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. versus No. 2-seeded Lees-McRae College.
Barton entered today's contest on a 10-game unbeaten run and closes out its 2026 season with an 8-7-3 overall mark.
At the 19:03 mark of the first half, the Patriots established the early lead as a cross from the right side by graduate student defender
Tim Wilkening found Celikkol at the far post. He made the immediate touch that rolled underneath the goalkeeper into an open net, his second goal of the season, 1-0.
Barton started controlling the pace following the opening goal, as Sanchis was forced into three saves in five minutes. The Bulldogs nearly tied the match in the 40th minute as a shot by Romeo Verhage off a corner kick hit the crossbar, but the Patriots were able to clear the ball.
At halftime, Barton held a slight 6-5 edge in total shots while holding a 2-1 lead in corner kicks.
The Bulldogs peppered the goal in the opening moments of the second half with four shots, including one attempt on goal. The Patriots countered with a trio of shots just beyond the 65th minute, forcing Devin Agostinelli into a pair of stops. In the closing moments, Sanchis made a pair of key stops to seal the shutout win.
Sanchis posted his second-highest save total of the season with six on 12 shots faced while securing his ninth clean sheet of the season.
The Bulldogs finished the contest with a 12-10 shot advantage while holding a 5-3 edge in corner kicks.
