FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University senior forward
Victor Barón da Silva scored in his debut in the 54th minute, but a tying goal in the closing minutes left the Patriots with a season-opening 1-1 draw against #15 ranked Flagler College in men's soccer action at Hartzler Field on Thursday evening.
Francis Marion will host local rival Coker University (0-0-0) on Sunday, Aug. 30 with kickoff set for 7 p.m. in Florence, S.C.
The Patriots and Saints each registered nine total shots with five on goal, while FMU held a 4-1 edge in corner kicks. Tonight's contest featured 11 cards, including a pair of yellow cards shown to graduate student defender
David Guevara in the final 10 minutes of the match.
FMU graduate student goalkeeper
Vicent Sanchis tallied four saves in his Patriot debut, while Flagler senior Ryan Rivas also totaled four stops.
A majority of the first half was a stalemate between the two sides with the Saints registering the opening shot of the contest at the 4:32-mark. Francis Marion's initial shot of the match came via a long-distance shot by graduate student midfielder
Filippo Noseda in the 20th minute that was saved by the goalkeeper. Sanchis made a comfortable save at the 21:55-mark before senior midfielder
Santiago Sanchez produced a shot on goal in the 23rd minute. The intensity of the match picked up as the official issued four yellow cards in the first half.
Following a 30-minute lightning delay, the game resumed with just 6:50 remaining in the opening half. In the 41st minute, the Patriots were awarded a penalty following a handball on a cross into the box. Junior forward
Jose Coutinho stepped to the spot and saw his goal-scoring opportunity saved by the Saint goalkeeper.
Francis Marion capitalized in the initial moments of the first half, netting a goal in the 54th minute. After being awarded a free kick, Noseda and senior forward
Volkan Celikkol connected on a quick one-two pass before a cross over top found the head of Barón da Silva, who floated a ball into the top-left corner to take a 1-0 edge.
The physical contest picked up following the opening goal as the Saints peppered four shots, including a pair on goal. FMU dropped to 10 men in the 83rd minute as Guevara was issued a second yellow card after impeding an attacking chance for Flagler. The Saints answered with the game-tying goal just two minutes later on a counterattack to eventually force the game to a 1-1 draw.
