FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore Levin Sandmann scored one goal and assisted on another to lead Francis Marion University to a 3-0 blanking of Barton College, Wednesday evening (Sept. 9) in non-conference men’s soccer action.

Francis Marion improves to 2-0-1. Barton, which earned a bid to the 2014 NCAA Division II national tournament, drops to 1-2-0.

FMU will open Peach Belt Conference play on Saturday night at Flagler College.  Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.  The next home match for the Patriots is Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. against Lenoir-Rhyne University.

After a scoreless opening half, Sandmann put the Patriots on top 1-0 with a 7-yard shot at the 53:21 mark.  Sophomore Gael Mabiala assisted on the score.

Only 3:15 later, Sandmann headed the ball to the top of the box where sophomore Harrison Smith connected on a 19-yard shot that found the back of the netting.  It was Smith’s second tally of the young season.

Senior Sven Ricke scored the final goal on a 10-yard blast in the box following a cross from the right end line by freshman Oliver Drakenhammar.

Francis Marion outshot the Bulldogs 17-9, but Barton held a narrow 8-7 edge in corner kicks.

Barton registered three of its shots during a 1:30 span early in the match, a sequence that also produced a pair of corner kicks.

FMU freshman goalkeeper Jonathan Mannes recorded his second shutout in three appearances after being named the PBC Goalkeeper of the Week on Tuesday.  The 6-foot-6 Auckland, New Zealand native registered four saves.  Mannes and the Patriot backline has allowed only one goal in 290 minutes this season.

Barton goalkeeper Jens Madsen Hordvik made five saves.

Francis Marion’s best scoring opportunity in the first half came in the 22nd minute when Hordvik pushed a header by Sindre Traaseth over the crossbar.  In the 51st minute, Hordvik made a diving save at the near post on a shot by Mabiala.

FMU was tabbed to finish third in the Peach Belt Conference’s pre-season coaches’ poll, while Flagler was tied for fourth.

Francis Marion Univ. (2-0-1) def. Barton College (1-2-0) 3-0
Date: Sep 09, 2015  Attendance: 232
Weather: Mostly Clear, 89 degrees, Winds SSW @ 9 mph

Goals by period          1  2  Tot
------------------------------------
Barton College......     0  0 -  0
Francis Marion Univ.  0  3 -  3
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  53:21 FMU Levin Sandmann (1) (Gael Mabiala) - Short pass ahead, 7-yard shot in box
2-0.  56:36 FMU Harrison Smith (2) (Levin Sandmann) - Headed out after throw-in to top of box, 19-yard blast straight on
3-0.  75:07 FMU Sven Ricke (1) (Oliver Drakenhammar) - Cross from right, 10-yard shot in box

Shots: Barton College 9, Francis Marion Univ. 17 ; Saves: Barton College 5 (Jens Madsen Hordvik 5), Francis Marion Univ.  4 (Jonathan Mannes 4)

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