FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore forward Chanel Harris scored a pair of goals to help lead Francis Marion University to a 4-0 win over USC Upstate, Friday evening (Sept. 7) in women’s non-conference soccer action.

The Patriots improve to 3-2-1 with their second shutout win in their last three outings.  FMU will play host to Charleston Southern University on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.  USC Upstate falls to 1-5-0.

FMU freshman goalkeeper Taylor O’Berry needed to make only one save en route to the shutout.  FMU outshot the Spartans 17-2 and led in corner kicks 5-1.  Francis Marion senior defender Rebeccah Hoekstra repeatedly turned away possible USC Upstate scoring opportunities during the final 45 minutes.

FMU junior Yasmin Bunter gave FMU a 1-0 advantage when she converted from the penalty spot at 36:28 mark.  Sophomore forward Elizabeth Asare drew the USC Upstate foul in the box as she received a pass and pushed hard into the right side of the 18. For Bunter it was her third goal of the season and 12th of her career.

Bunter then assisted on Harris’s first tally at 64:26.  With Harris streaking down the middle of the field, Bunter crossed the ball from the right side and Harris only needed to make solid contact and drove the ball into the back of the net from 12 yards out.

Harris’ second goal came in the 74th minute following a misplay by the Spartans in their defensive back.  The Toronto native picked up the loose ball, juked one defender, and then slotted the ball into the back right corner of the goal from 10 yards out.

The final Francis Marion score came at 87:30 when sophomore defender Sandy Odembo bent her own corner kick into the goal over the out-stretched arm of USC Upstate goalie Sarah Plantz.  It was Odembo’s first career score.  Plantz finished the night with eight saves.

Odemdo nearly had a two-goal night herself.  Her bending free kick in the 17th minute appeared to go in, but the Patriots were whistled for offside when it was determined the ball skimmed off the head of freshman Kristyn Leung who was standing near the goal line.

 

Francis Marion Univ, (3-2-1) def. USC Upstate (1-5-0) 4-0

Date: Sep 07, 2012  Attendance: 189

Weather: Sunny 85 degrees

Goals by period          1  2  Tot

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USC Upstate.........     0  0 -  0

Francis Marion Univ.  1  3 -  4

SCORING SUMMARY:

1-0.  36:28 FMU_W Yasmin Bunter (3) Penalty kick

2-0.  64:26 FMU_W Chanel Harris (2) (Yasmin Bunter) - cross to streaking runner for 12-yard shot

3-0.  73:38 FMU_W Chanel Harris (3) (unassisted) - turnover, juke, and slotted 10-yard shot

4-0.  87:30 FMU_W Sandy Odembo (1) (unassisted) - scored off corner kick

Shots: USC Upstate 2, Francis Marion Univ. 17 ; Saves: USC Upstate 8 (PLANTZ, Sarah 8), Francis Marion Univ. 1 (Taylor  O'Berry 1)