FLORENCE, SC – Freshman forward Elizabeth Asare scored on an 11-yard shot early in the second half to propel Francis Marion University to a 2-1 victory over High Point University, Sunday afternoon (Aug. 21) in women’s soccer action.

Francis Marion improves to 1-1-0, while the Panthers drop to 0-1-1. The result spoiled the return to Florence of High Point’s head coach Marty Beall.  Beall served as the head women’s coach at FMU from 2003 to 2008 and was an assistant coach for the four years prior to that.

The youthful Patriots took an early lead at the 6:53 mark when sophomore Yasmin Bunter corralled a long throw-in from freshman Chanel Harris and cranked a crisp 10-yard shot into the net. 

High Point evened the score in the 21st minute when Becca Hemby headed in a cross from six yards out.  Katie Harris and Jenny Ashurst combined on the service and cross that led to the tally.

The winning score for FMU began with a long ball from freshman defender Sandy Odembo that found Bunter alone in the midfielder.  She then played the ball ahead to Asare who beat the High Point defenders to the ball and then pushed her shot past Panther goalkeeper Andrea Ritchie.

The victory came despite High Point leading 21-4 in shots, and the Panthers took the only two corner kicks of the match.

FMU senior goalkeeper Lauren Vetock equaled her save output from Friday’s season-opener with eight stops.  Her biggest save came in the 61st minute when she ranged far to the right of the six-yard box, but when the ball reversed field, she had to change course and make a diving save on the left side on a shot by Hemby.

FMU will play at Campbell University on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Francis Marion Univ. (1-1-0) def. High Point Univ. (0-1-1) 2-1
Date: Aug 21, 2011  Attendance: 161 ; Weather: Cloudy, Hot, Humid 94 degrees

Goals by period       1  2  Tot
High Point Univ.....  1  0 -  1
Francis Marion Univ.  1  1 -  2

SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.   6:53 FMU Yasmin Bunter (1) (Chanel Harris) - Turn, 10 yard shot following long throw in
1-1.  20:20 HPU Becca Hemby (1) (Katie Harris;Jenny Ashurst) - 6 yard header off service and cross
2-1.  58:10 FMU Elizabeth Asare (1) (Yasmin Bunter;Sandy Odembo) - 11 yard shot from right angle after through ball

Shots: High Point Univ. 21, Francis Marion Univ. 4
Saves: High Point Univ. 1 (Andrea Ritchie 1), Francis Marion Univ. 8 (Lauren Vetock 8)

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