FLORENCE, SC – Senior Alex Blandin scored on a 16-yard shot only 1:09 into overtime to lift Francis Marion University to a 3-2 non-conference victory over Newberry College, Wednesday evening (Oct.  16) in men’s soccer action.

The Patriots improve to 6-2-3 and in the process surpass their win total of the 2012 season. Francis Marion will play a key Peach Belt Conference match at Clayton State University on Saturday at 5 p.m.

The Patriots led 2-0 at halftime only to see the Wolves (1-11-1) rally for two scores in the final 12 minutes of regulation.

Blandin’s winning tally came after Cody Farrier passed the ball to Sven Ricke who flipped the ball over a Newberry defender to Blandin.  Once he settled the ball, Blandin chipped the sphere over the Newberry goalkeeper and into the upper netting.

FMU outshot the Wolves 25-5 and held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Patriot sophomore goalkeeper Logan Fisher saw his first action of the season as he replaced FMU starter Nick Stover in the 21st minute.  Stover recorded the Patriots’ only save of the night.

Newberry senior goalkeeper Patrick Sweatt recorded 10 saves.

After peppering Sweatt in the opening minutes, Francis Marion finally took a 1-0 lead at 25:44 when freshman Shahin Hemat tapped in a pass from Lukas Pousset.  Hemat leads FMU with four goals. The margin doubled to 2-0 at 35:50 when sophomore midfielder Tyler Norris headed in a corner kick by Ricke.  Ricke leads the Patriots with six assists.

The advantage stayed at two goals when Newberry defender Tyler Ulichnie – standing on the goal line in front of an open net – turned away a shot by Joergen Tesdal in the 70th minute.

Newberry trimmed the margin to 2-1 on a score by sophomore Anthony Lucido in the 79th minute. The Wolves tied the contest at 2-2 with only 31 seconds left in regulation when Jalin Butler headed in a free kick by Graham Jermstad.

Francis Marion Univ. (6-2-3) def. Newberry College (1-11-1) 3-2 OT
Date: Oct 16, 2013  Attendance: 133
Weather: Mostly Clear, 73 degrees, Winds NNE at 5 mph

Goals by period          1  2 OT  Tot
--------------------------------------------
Newberry College....   0  2  0 -  2
Francis Marion Univ.  2  0  1 -  3
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  25:44 FMU_M Shahin Hemat (4) (Lukas Pousset) - Tap in at right post after pass from top of 18-yd box
2-0.  35:50 FMU_M Tyler Norris (2) (Sven Ricke) - header off corner kick
2-1.  78:20 NBYMS Anthony Lucido (2) (Graham Jermstad) - Pass ahead and 16-yd shot beats GK to left
2-2.  89:29 NBYMS Jalin Butler (2) (Graham Jermstad) - Header off free kick
3-2.  91:09 FMU_M Alex Blandin (2) (Sven Ricke;Cody Farrier) - Flick-on goal from 16 yds out

Shots: Newberry College 5, Francis Marion Univ. 25 ; Saves: Newberry College 12 (Patrick Sweatt 10; TEAM 2), Francis Marion Univ. 1 (Nick Stover 1)

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

ECNL Girls AZ: U17 Players to Watch

ACC Men's Conference Tournament Preview

Women's Team of the Week: Nov. 4