FLORENCE, SC – Despite registering an advantage in shots and corner kicks, Francis Marion University came up on the short end of a 2-0 non-conference decision to visiting Lenoir-Rhyne University, Saturday night (Sept. 19) in men’s soccer action. Francis Marion drops to 3-2-1 and sees its unbeaten home streak end at seven matches (6-0-1 mark). FMU hosts Chowan University on Thursday at 7 p.m. on Hartzler Field. The Bears (3-1-1) quickly took a 1-0 advantage in the third minute as Ben Meredith headed in a service from DeJean Charlton. That margin grew to 2-0 at the 24:09 mark when Jens Roessler took a pass from Mitch Botfield and scored on a 15-yard shot. Francis Marion outshot Lenoir-Rhyne 14-9 and held an 8-3 lead in corner kicks. However, only two of the Patriots’ second-half shots were on frame and neither was a serious threat to evade Lenoir-Rhyne goalkeeper Zack King. King made his first appearance of the 2015 season as he replaced injured starter Benjamin Lundt in the eighth minute. Lundt had made two saves prior to leaving and King finished with five stops. FMU freshman goalkeeper Jonathan Mannes recorded two saves in the loss. Junior Peter Beniseau led Francis Marion with four shots, while freshman midfielder Anton Jonsson had three attempts. Senior Sven Ricke blasted a 15-yard shot in the sixth minute that sailed just outside the left post, while in the 16th minute Beniseau headed down a free kick from Ricke directly at King on the goal line. Lenoir-Rhyne Univ. (3-1-1) def. Francis Marion Univ. (3-2-1) 2-0 Date: Sep 19, 2015 Attendance: 111 Weather: Mostly clear, 89 degrees, winds NE @ 12 mph Goals by period 1 2 Tot -------------------------------- Lenoir-Rhyne Univ... 2 0 - 2 Francis Marion Univ. 0 0 - 0 SCORING SUMMARY: 1-0. 2:37 LR Ben Meredith (2) (DeJean Charlton) - Header off service from far left wing 2-0. 24:09 LR Jens Roessler (1) (Mitch Botfield) - 15-yard shot from directly in front of goal Shots: Lenoir-Rhyne Univ. 9, Francis Marion Univ. 14 ; Saves: Lenoir-Rhyne Univ. 7 (Benjamin Lundt 2; Zach King 5), Francis Marion Univ. 2 (Jonathan Mannes 2)