FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA – Francis Marion University delivered a statement performance, overwhelming Emmanuel University from the opening whistle and cruising to a decisive 7-0 victory on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 26) in a Conference Carolinas women's soccer matchup at the Stephen Lee Complex.
A balanced offensive attack fueled FMU's high-intensity performance, as six different Patriots (6-3, 4-1) found the back of the net while FMU's crisp ball movement produced four first-half goals. Junior midfielder
Gabbie Dubiel tallied a career-best five points after netting a brace and adding an assist.
With this win, it marks the first-ever victory against Emmanuel in program history as the sides met for just the fourth time ever. It matched the largest margin of victory for the Patriots since 2018, when FMU defeated Columbia College by an 8-1 margin.
Francis Marion will travel to Ferrum College on Wednesday, Sept. 30, for a league divisional match at 2 p.m.
Graduate student forward
Tehya Dave' continues to be a leader on the pitch after garnering four points (1G, 2A) in this game. She moves into eighth all-time in career points with the Patriots at 76 (29 goals, 18 assists), surpassing Susie Harris (1997-2000), who tallied 73 total points. Dave' also sits in a four-way tie for seventh all-time in career goals.
It was sophomore midfielder
Georgia-Allen Aaron who got the Patriots on the board in the eighth minute of play, when she found the high-right corner of the goal for a second-straight match.
Nearing the 13th minute, sophomore forward
Matea Bradfield sent her team-leading eighth goal of the year to high-right with the help of Dave' to extend the lead to 2-0.
In the 21st minute, Dubiel scored into high-left with an assist by senior defender
Joy Brockmann. Dubiel fed off that energy to power an assist to sophomore midfielder
Madeline Ballard's goal at the 35:28 mark. It was Ballard's first goal of the 2026 campaign.
Out of the half, the Patriots showed no sign of stopping. Dave' made the most of Emmanuel's errors by passing to junior midfielder
Nalani Hunt. The England native streaked down the right sideline and came out victorious in the one-on-one opportunity to beat the keeper in the 54th minute, her first of the season.
A minute later, Francis Marion scored again, this time by the power of Dave', who registered her seventh goal of the 2026 season, as N. Hunt and Ballard registered assists.
The Patriots capped the scoring in the 84th minute after the Lions' goalkeeper almost failed to keep the ball in bounds, allowing FMU to apply more pressure. Dubiel collected the loose ball and fired a shot into the lower-left corner of the net.
Sophomore
Emma Erickson and senior
Erin Grabeel combined for the shutout after each player logged 45 minutes between the posts. Erickson played the opening half and didn't face a shot, while Grabeel made her return from injury and registered two saves on four shots faced.
The Patriots had a significant 35-4 shot advantage, 22 of those on goal for Francis Marion while Emmanuel had two. Corner kicks belonged to FMU as well, with a 12-4 edge against EU.
