FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore Oliver Drakenhammar scored a goal in the 55th minute, but despite 12 other second-half shots it was not enough as Francis Marion University fell to the University of North Georgia 2-1, Saturday night (Sept. 24), in Peach Belt Conference men's soccer action.

The Patriots (2-4-1,1-1-0) will play host to Lander University on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on Hartzler Field. The Patriots will also welcome teams from the Florence Soccer Association.

Drakenhammar's fourth goal of the season came at the 54:37 mark after freshman forward Mathias Hjort crossed a ball to the center of the box, finding Drakenhammar, who would finish from nine yards out.

North Georgia (4-5-0, 1-0-0) would strike in just the third minute of play as Ivan Acimovic's 15-yard shot from the left side beat FMU sophomore goalkeeper Jonathan Mannes to make it 1-0. The tally would come after a Patriot tried to clear the ball, but it deflected off North Georgia's Adam Farrell and to the foot of Acimovic.

FMU would look to tie the game in the 31st minute as Hjort took a 17-yard shot off a cross from the right side, but hit the crossbar and was cleared away by the Nighthawks. Sophomore forward Levin Sandmann had an opportunity of his own in the 32nd minute, but his shot was saved by North Georgia goalkeeper Michael Samnik.

Matt Shaftoe doubled the margin for UNG to 2-0 with a marker in the 36th minute. Shaftoe scored from seven yards out after an initial shot from Eren Ozer was saved but the Patriot defense was unable to corral the rebound.

The Nighthawks would take their 2-0 lead into the locker room at the end of the first half.

Trailing by just one goal at 2-1, Sandmann would go to the slide from 16 yards out after Samnik left his box and tried to get to the ball before Sandmann. Samnik would make the save to keep North Georgia on top by a goal.

The Nighthawks would survive the frenzy in the final two minutes of the contest as junior midfielder Jevon Williams and junior defender Gaspard Mianne would each have an opportunity to try and tie the match. Williams' chance came in the 89th minute and Mianne's in the 90th minute, but both would be stopped by Samnik.

Mannes played the opening 40:26 in net for the Patriots, registering three saves. FMU junior goalkeeper Jordan Le Guyader played the final 49:34 in net and stopped both shots that came his way.

Samnik finished with 11 stops as the Patriots tallied 21 shots, including 12 on frame. FMU led 7-4 in corner kicks. The Nighthawks tallied 17 shots, with six finding their way on frame.

Sandmann finished the contest with four shots on frame for FMU, while Drakenhammar, Hjort, and Mianne each finished with two shots.

U. of North Georgia (4-5-0 , 1-0-0 PBC) def. Francis Marion Univ. (2-5-1 , 1-1-0 PBC) 2-1
Date: Sep 24, 2016  Attendance: 127
Weather: Clear, 87 degrees, Winds NNE @ 5 mph

Goals by period         1  2  Tot
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U. of North Georgia.  2  0 -  2
Francis Marion Univ.  0  1 -  1
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.   2:33 UNG Ivan Acimovic (3) (Adam Farrell) - Failed clearance by defender, 15 yard shot from left side.
2-0.  35:33 UNG Matt Shaftoe (2) (Eren Ozer)
2-1.  54:37 FMU Oliver Drakenhammar (4) (Mathias Hjort;Levin Sandmann) - pass ahead, cross to center 9 yard shot

Shots: U. of North Georgia 17, Francis Marion Univ. 21 ; Saves: U. of North Georgia 11 (Michael Samnik 11), Francis Marion  Univ. 6 (Jonathan Mannes 3; Jordan Le Guyader 2; TEAM 1)

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