MELBOURNE, FL – Twenty-fourth ranked Florida Tech scored twice in the final 10 minutes to rally for a 4-2 victory over upset-minded Francis Marion University, Saturday night (Sept. 2) in men’s college soccer action.

FMU (1-1-0) will return to Florence to play its home opener on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. against Barton College.

For the second match in a row, junior forward Levin Sandmann gave Francis Marion the lead with an early score.  The reigning Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year used an assist from senior defender Jevon Williams to find the back of the net only 45 seconds into the contest.

The Panthers tallied an equalizing goal in the 17th minute, but Patriot sophomore defender Colin McPartlin scored at the 22:59 mark to give FMU a 2-1 advantage.  The tally came when he headed in a corner kick off the foot of Sandmann.

However, Florida Tech’s Hugo Lopez knotted the match with a score at the 57:52 mark, Per Henrik Nag netted a penalty kick score in the 81st minute, and Brandon Smalley knocked home a break-away score in 86th minute.

FMU freshman goalkeeper Washington Bgoni registered the match’s lone save as Florida Tech led in shots 16-4 and corner kicks 17-4.

 

#24 Florida Tech (1-0-0) def. Francis Marion Univ. (1-1-0) 4-2

Date: Sep 02, 2017  Attendance: 95

Weather: 88 Degrees Mostly Cloudy

Goals by period          1  2  Tot

-----------------------------------------

Francis Marion Univ.  2  0 -  2

Florida Tech........       1  3 -  4

SCORING SUMMARY:

1-0.   0:45 FMU Levin Sandmann (2) (Jevon Williams) - Outside of box through the golies legs

1-1.  16:53 FITMSOC Evan Enders (1) (Per Henrik Nag) - Pass through the middle, shot bottom right corner

2-1.  22:59 FMU Colin McPartlin (1) (Levin Sandmann) - Goal off corner kick, header into to center of the goal

2-2.  57:52 FITMSOC Hugo Lopez (1) (Brandon Smalley) - Cross from the left side into the box, right footer

3-2.  80:06 FITMSOC Per Henrik Nag (1) Penalty kick

4-2.  85:54 FITMSOC Brandon Smalley (1) (unassisted) - Goal came off breakaway

Shots: Francis Marion Univ. 4, Florida Tech 16 ; Saves: Francis Marion Univ. 1 (Washington Bgoni 1), Florida Tech 0 (Christopher Page 0)