FLORENCE, SC – UNC Wilmington scored a pair of first-half goals in a span of 44 seconds and went on to claim a 3-1 non-conference victory over Francis Marion University, Sunday afternoon (Sept. 22) in women’s soccer action.

The loss spoiled the Patriots’ home opener and disappointed a Youth Day crowd as FMU saw it season mark drop to 0-7-0.  The Patriots will play at Wofford College on Friday night at 7 p.m.

Freshman midfielder Caroline Edmonds scored Francis Marion’s lone tally in the 78th minute. A cross from the right side by Brittany Smith went through the six-yard box and was eventually deflected by freshman forward Kelly Anthony to Edmonds who scored near the left post.

Five minutes later, Anthony had an opportunity to trim the margin to one goal, but her free kick blast from 35 yards out was pushed over the crossbar by UNCW goalkeeper Carolyn Huddy.  The resulting corner kick did lead to a shot by junior Teri Kourtis, but her attempt sailed high over the goal.

UNCW (5-5-0) outshot Francis Marion 14-8 and led in corner kicks 8-4.

FMU sophomore goalkeeper Taylor O’Berry, who is nationally ranked in total saves and saves per match, upped her season average with seven saves.  Seahawks’ starting keeper Liisa Rahkola made one save as did Huddy, who entered the contest in the 77th minute.

UNCW took a 1-0 advantage at the 20:45 mark when Katrina Guillou fed Stephanie Bronson for a 15-yard shot from directly in front of the goal.  Forty-four seconds later, Maddie McCormick found Guillou racing down the left side for a short tap-in score.

The Seahawks upped the margin to 3-0 in the 41st minute when Lauren Nalevaiko headed in Lindsey Byrne’s corner kick.

FMU missed out on two scoring chances in the first 15 minutes.  Sophomore midfielder Arianna Pierner had her 13-yard shot bounce off the crossbar at 9:14 and Smith was wide right on an attempt to knock home a beautiful cross from senior Jordan Allen at 14:58.

 

UNC Wilmington (5-5-0) def. Francis Marion Univ. (0-7-0) 3-1

Date: Sep 22, 2013  Attendance: 211

Weather: Overcast, 75 degrees, Winds NNE at 13 mph

 

Goals by period          1  2  Tot

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

UNC Wilmington......  3  0 -  3

Francis Marion Univ.  0  1 -  1

 

SCORING SUMMARY:

1-0.  20:45 UNCW Bronson, Stephanie (4) (Guillou, Katrina) - 15 yard shot after short pass from left side

2-0.  21:29 UNCW Guillou, Katrina (4) (McCormick, Maddie) - pass ahead, short tap in from left angle

3-0.  40:16 UNCW Nalevaiko, Lauren (1) (Byrne, Lindsey) - header at back post off corner kick

3-1  77:04 FMU_W Caroline Edmonds (1) (Kelly Anthony) - deflected ball in box, tapped in left side

Shots: UNC Wilmington 14, Francis Marion Univ. 8 ; Saves: UNC Wilmington 2 (Huddy, Carolyn 1; Rahkola, Liisa 1), Francis Marion Univ. 7 (Taylor O'Berry 7)