FLORENCE, SC – Junior forward
Jose Coutinho scored the game-winning goal and added an assist on Wednesday night (Sept. 16), as Francis Marion University recorded a 2-0 shutout victory over Lander University in regional non-conference men's soccer action at Hartzler Field.
With the win, the Patriots extend their winning streak to four and improve to 5-1-1 overall, with a 3-1-1 record at home. It marks FMU's first win since 2019 over former conference foe Lander, which occurred in the Peach Belt Conference Championship match. The Bearcats drop to 2-2-2 this season after being unbeaten in their previous four matches.
Francis Marion returns to Hartzler Field on Saturday, Sept. 19, to face Belmont Abbey College in Conference Carolinas play at 7 p.m.
Coutinho's three-point performance extends his point streak to five straight games while netting goals in four of the last five matches.
Graduate student goalkeeper
Vicent Sanchis earned his third clean sheet of the season despite not recording a save on six shots faced in 90 minutes of action.
Lander pressured in its offensive end and registered a shot in the opening seconds of the first half before the Patriots countered with a pair of shots on goal by senior forward
Victor Barón da Silva. Opportunities were limited for both sides as they each went into the break with three shots while neither side recorded a corner kick.
Head coach
Luis Rincon switched up his lineup to begin the second half, and it paid dividends as the Patriots controlled possession for the majority of the half. FMU found its breakthrough in the 56th minute as a quick one-two pass by Coutinho and graduate student midfielder
Filippo Noseda opened up a scoring chance. Coutinho collected the through ball and beat the goalkeeper from 18 yards out into the bottom left corner, tying the team's lead with four goals this season.
Senior midfielder
Juan Esteban Silva subbed on at the 64:15 mark and made an immediate impact, netting his first goal of the season just 24 seconds after entering the match. Coutinho forced a turnover near the top of the box before playing it to Esteban Silva, who beat the goalkeeper from 10 yards out into the far left post, 2-0.
The Patriot defense held Lander without a shot on goal and only six attempts in the game to secure a third consecutive shutout victory.
