FLORENCE, SC – On a sweltering Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 2) at Hartzler Field, Francis Marion University was unable to overcome two penalty kick opportunities after suffering a 2-1 loss to #9-ranked Auburn University Montgomery in a non-conference men's soccer regional matchup.
Following the loss, the Patriots (1-1-1) will regroup for a weekend road trip to Murfreesboro, N.C., to begin Conference Carolinas play with a divisional contest at Chowan University at 7 p.m. FMU finished its three-game homestand on Wednesday after facing two opponents ranked inside the top 15 overall in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. Today marked the first-ever meeting between the Patriots and the Warhawks (3-0-0).
In the first half, the Patriots nearly took the lead in the seventh minute when senior forward
Volkan Celikkol stole a back pass to the goalkeeper, but the AUM goalie recovered the loose ball to keep the contest scoreless. At the 11:47-mark, the Warhawks were awarded a penalty kick following a handball in the box. Graduate student goalkeeper
Vicent Sanchis saved the initial shot before AUM's Sean O'Donnell gathered the rebound and netted his first goal of the season.
In the 39th minute, Francis Marion found its answer as senior midfielder
Juan Esteban Silva delivered a pass into the box that found junior forward
Jose Coutinho. A quick header down off the pass allowed Coutinho to score on a floating shot into the left side of the net, his first of the season, 1-1.
Just one minute later, Auburn Montgomery was awarded another penalty kick following a late challenge at the top of the 18-yard box. AUM's Jaden McKree stepped to the spot and buried his third goal of the year to regain the lead by a 2-1 margin.
The Patriots looked for an equalizer early in the second half following a pair of shots by senior forward Victor Barón da Silva, which saw one opportunity stopped by the AUM goalkeeper. The Warhawks nearly secured a two-goal advantage in the 59th minute as a curling free kick from the right side hit the far post. Despite Francis Marion holding an 8-2 edge in shots in the second half, the Patriots only managed one shot on goal.
Sanchis completed the 90-minute match with a pair of saves on eight shots faced.
FMU finished with a 12-8 advantage in total shots while both sides had three corner kicks.
