FLORENCE, SC – Senior defender David Sheridan scored on a header in the ninth minute and then helped anchor a Francis Marion University defense that allowed only one shot on goal as the Patriots downed Chowan University 3-0, Thursday night (Sept. 24) in men’s soccer action.

Francis Marion improved to 4-2-1 with the win before a rain-soaked Florence Soccer Association Night crowd of 350 at Hartzler Field.  The Patriots return to Peach Belt Conference action on Saturday when they play host to the University of Montevallo for a 4 p.m. kickoff.

Chowan (4-2-1) came into the match ranked third nationally in goals against average, having surrendered only two scores in their opening six contests.

Sheridan headed home a free kick from Sven Ricke at the 8:23 mark for the eventual match-winning score.  Ricke’s kick came from 26 yards out on the right side following a Hawks foul. For Sheridan, it was the Glasgow, Scotland native’s seventh career goal.

FMU nearly doubled their advantage in the 31st minute when a pass from freshman Anton Jonsson sprang Ricke free behind the Chowan backline, but Hawks goalkeeper Marco Lujan came off his line, dove, and took the ball off Ricke’s foot to thwart the attack.

A cross from Jonsson on the left side found sophomore Levin Sandmann open in the box at the 62:07 mark.  Sandmann settled the ball, chopped back to his left, and fired a left-footed shot past Lujan and into the Chowan goal.

Jonsson accounted for the final tally when a through ball from Ricke got him behind the Hawks defense and he slid a 13-yard shot pass the goalkeeper.

Ricke, who leads the PBC in assists and ranks 15th nationally, added two to his season total.  For both Sandmann and Jonsson it was their third scores of the 2015 campaign.

FMU freshman goalkeeper Jonathan Mannes was needed to make only one save while posting his fourth shutout of the season.  Francis Marion outshot the Hawks 14-6 and held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks.

Lujan finished the night with three saves.

FMU held Chowan without a shot attempt until the 35th minute.

Francis Marion Univ. (4-2-1) def. Chowan University (4-2-1) 3-0
Date: Sep 24, 2015  Attendance: 350
Weather: Overcast, Lt Rain, 70 degrees, Winds NE @ 17 mph

Goals by period         1  2  Tot
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Chowan University...  0  0 -  0
Francis Marion Univ.  1  2 -  3
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.   8:23 FMU David Sheridan (1) (Sven Ricke) - Header from 3 yards out off free kick
2-0.  62:07 FMU Levin Sandmann (3) (Anton Jonsson) - service cross from left, settle, chop, shot from 8 yards out
3-0.  69:03 FMU Anton Jonsson (3) (Sven Ricke) - Through ball, beats GK 1v1

Shots: Chowan University 6, Francis Marion Univ. 14 ; Saves: Chowan University 3 (LUJAN,Marco 3), Francis Marion Univ. 1  (Jonathan Mannes 1)

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