FLORENCE, SC – Juniors Cody Farrier and Simon Nett both connected on first-half goals and Francis Marion University played perhaps its best match of the year to tie regionally-ranked Young Harris College 2-2, Saturday night (Oct. 6) in Peach Belt Conference men’s soccer play.

Francis Marion (3-6-1, 0-3-1) registers its first point in PBC action, while the Mountain Lions, ranked fifth in the most recent NSCAA/Continental Tire Southeast region poll, are now 9-2-1 and 2-1-1.  Young Harris is in its first year as a Peach Belt Conference member.

FMU will travel up Interstate 95 to meet PBC-rival UNC Pembroke on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. kick off.

Farrier gave Francis Marion a quick 1-0 lead in the fourth minute when he took a pass from freshman midfielder Pascal Magiera and chipped the ball over the outstretched arms of Young Harris goalkeeper Wezly Barnard.

The Mountain Lions countered with a pair of goals to take a 2-1 advantage.  Jonas Sturesson, using an assist from Ashley Walker, scored on a 12-yard shot to the right post at the 19:43 mark.  William Schonfeldt finished a masterful scoring sequence with a tap-in goal at 35:28 to put Young Harris on top for the first time.  The play began with Walker playing the ball out wide to Lewis Hilton who whipped a cross through the 6-yard box that found the foot the sliding Schonfeldt.

FMU answered with the tying score only 2:19 later.  The Mountain Lion defense played the ball back to Barnard, who touched the ball with his hands just outside the box while under heavy pressure from FMU forward Alex Blandin.  On the ensuing free kick, junior midfielder Henrique Guitti served the ball into the box where the 6-5 Nett headed it into the netting from five yards out.

After the end-to-end first half that featured 17 shots, neither team could find the goal over the second half and overtime periods.

A 79th-minute sequence that started with Chuy Cruz passing to Blandin who crossed the ball, saw Farrier get on the end of the cross, but not be able to touch the ball past Barnard.

Four minutes later, Young Harris’ leading scorer Niall McCabe tried to elude FMU goalkeeper Logan Fisher in the left side of the box, but his shot went just outside the right post.  Four minutes after that, McCabe was sent off after receiving his second yellow card of the match, the latter card for time wasting.

Now playing with a man advantage, Nett sent a 40-yard blast in the 89th minute that rose just above the cross bar.

Each team recorded one shot in each of the overtime periods.  FMU’s best opportunity came with 1:18 remaining when Blandin obtained possession in the defensive half of the field, dribbled 50 yards downfield and out racing the Young Harris defenders, but then firing high on the goal.

The Mountain Lions’ Kyle Ball registered the only shot-on-goal in overtime with 14 seconds remaining, but Fisher easily caught the attempt.

Young Harris led in shot 22-13 and held an 11-4 advantage in corner kicks.  Fisher, in only his second career start, compiled eight saves, while Barnard had four stops.

Francis Marion Univ. (3-6-1, 0-3-1 PBC) ties Young Harris College (9-2-1, 2-1-1 PBC) 1-1 2OTs 
Date: Oct 06, 2012  Attendance: 175
Weather: Clear, Pleasant, 84 degrees

Goals by period       1  2 OT O2  Tot
-------------------------------------
Young Harris College  2  0  0  0 -  2
Francis Marion Univ.  2  0  0  0 -  2
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.   3:38 FMU Cody Farrier (5) (Pascal Magiera) - pass to left side, chip over GK from 10 yds
1-1.  19:43 YHC Jonas Sturesson (1) (Ashley Walker) - 12 yd shot to right post
2-1.  35:28 YHC William Schonfeldt (2) (Lewis Hilton;Ashley Walker) - pass to right, cross, sliding tap in
2-2.  37:47 FMU Simon Nett (1) (Henrique Guitti) - header off free kick from 18 yds

Shots: Young Harris College 22, Francis Marion Univ. 13; Saves: Young Harris College 4 (Wezly Barnard 4), Francis Marion Univ. 8 (Logan Fisher 8)

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