FLORENCE, SC – Senior midfielder Joseph Toby scored once and assisted another goal to help lead fourth-ranked Flagler College to a 2-0 hard-fought victory over Francis Marion University, Sunday morning (Sept. 9) in the Peach Belt Conference opener for both men’s soccer teams.

The match was originally scheduled for Saturday evening, but was pushed back 16 hours due to heavy rain. FMU (0-3-0, 0-1-0) will play at Mount Olive College on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Flagler (2-0-1, 1-0-0), the pre-season favorite to win the 2012 PBC title, outshot FMU 13-9 and led in corner kicks 11-1.

Perhaps Francis Marion’s best scoring opportunity came in the fifth minute when junior forward Cody Farrier took a through ball and got behind the Saints’ defense.  However, Flagler sophomore goalkeeper Camp Bissell came off his line and stuffed Farrier’s attempt about 13 yards from the goal.

In the 23rd minute, FMU freshman midfielder Pascal Magiera sent a beautiful cross from the right side through the 6-yard box, but no Patriot was able to complete the scoring chance.

At the 38:19 mark, Toby sent a hard cross from the left side on the ground that FMU freshman goalkeeper Taylor King was unable to control.  The ball bounced to Flagler freshman Jonny Crosgrove who tapped the ball into the net from three yards out.

King kept the score at 1-0 when he made a tough save on a 12-yard shot by Toby in the 51st minute.  Bissell kept the Patriots off the scoreboard with a difficult save in the 53rd minute.  FMU’s Henrique Guitti fed a nice pass through to Farrier, but Bissell covered the toe-poked shot.

Guitti, thanks to a pass from Matthew McNab, got behind the Saints’ backline in the 60th minute, but his effort from 15 yards out got pass Bissell but not the left post.

Flagler doubled its lead to 2-0 at 72:24 when Toby took a feed from Zach Shanahan and scored on an 11-yard shot from the left side that tucked just inside the far post.

King finished the match with six saves, while Bissell notched three saves.

 

#4 Flagler College 2-0-1 (1-0-0 PBC) def. Francis Marion Univ.0-3-0 (0-1-0 PBC) 2-0

Date: Sep 09, 2012  Attendance: 88

Weather: Overcast, 73 degrees

Goals by period           1  2  Tot

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

Flagler College.....      1  1 -  2

Francis Marion Univ.  0  0 -  0

SCORING SUMMARY:

1-0.  38:19 FLG Jonny Cosgrove (1) (Joseph Toby) - Tap-in when cross bounced off GK

2-0.  72:24 FLG Joseph Toby (1) (Zach Shanahan) - 11 yard shot from left side

Shots: Flagler College 13, Francis Marion Univ. 9 ; Saves: Flagler College 3 (Camp Bissell 3), Francis Marion Univ. 6 (Taylor King 6)