FLORENCE, SC – First-half goals by freshman Julius Broman and senior Benjamin Kwast put Francis Marion University in a comfortable position Saturday night (Oct. 18) and the Patriots held off a late rally by Clayton State University to capture a 3-2 Peach Belt Conference men’s soccer win.

FMU now moves to 7-3-2 overall with a 2-2-2 record in the Peach Belt, while Clayton State falls to 6-5-1 and 3-3-0.  The Patriots have now beaten the Lakers in their last three meetings to take a 10-9-6 series edge.

The Patriots will return to conference play on Wednesday (Oct. 22) at USC Aiken for a 6 p.m. kickoff.  FMU will be back home at Hartzler Field against PBC foe Georgia Southwestern State University on Saturday (Oct. 25) at 7 p.m. for Florence Soccer Association Night.

Francis Marion got on the scoreboard early Saturday when Broman drilled home his team-leading sixth goal of the season in the 13th minute. Broman received a pass from freshman Ryan Kolenda on the top right edge of the box and beat CSU goalkeeper Nick Punter into the lower left corner with a 14-yard blast.

Late in the first half at the 41:49 mark, FMU extended its lead to 2-0 when Kwast delivered a put-back goal off Sven Ricke’s saved shot. On the goal, Ricke earned his team-best sixth assist of the season.  Ricke’s initial shot was saved by Punter, but rebounded to Kwast about 11 yards out from the goal.

Early in the second half, Ricke earned a penalty kick when he was fouled at the top left corner of the box. Ricke stepped up to take the penalty kick, but was denied by Punter. The rebound fell to Ricke who was again denied by Punter, but a third effort on goal, this time off Ricke’s head, found the back of the net at the 53:33 mark.

Clayton State mounted their late rally when sophomore midfielder Casey Shultis scored unassisted goals in the 72nd and 76th minutes.  His second tally came on a free kick from 23 yards out.

The Lakers managed only one more shot, a harmless effort that went high over the crossbar in the 82nd minute.

FMU sophomore goalkeeper Mike Warn registered six saves, including several of the leaping and diving variety. At the 50:00 mark, he blocked back-to-back well-struck efforts by the Lakers from just outside and then inside the penalty area.

Punter finished the evening with eight stops.

Clayton State held a slight 17-16 edge in shots, while the Patriots led in corner kicks 9-5.

Ricke nearly added to his three-point night in the first half, but a rebound goal was disallowed when the offside flag went up.

Francis Marion Univ.  7-3-2 (2-2-2 PBC) def. Clayton State Univ.6-5-1 (3-3-0 PBC) 3-2
Date: Oct 18, 2014  Attendance: 111
Weather: Mostly sunny, 81 degrees, Winds W @12 mph

Goals by period          1  2  Tot
-----------------------------------
Clayton State Univ..    0  2 -  2
Francis Marion Univ.   2  1 -  3
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  12:29 FMU Julius Broman (6) (Ryan Kolenda) - Pass ahead on right side, 14 yard shot from right angle
2-0.  41:49 FMU Benjamin Kwast (3) (Sven Ricke) - Rebound goal, 11 yards, after keeper's save of previous shot
3-0.  53:33 FMU Sven Ricke (4) (unassisted) - Second of two rebound shots after saved penalty kick
3-1.  71:26 CST Casey Shultis (2) (unassisted) - Cross goes through keeper's hand and into goal
3-2.  75:44 CST Casey Shultis (3) (unassisted) - Free kick from 23 yards straight on, deflects off post and in

Shots: Clayton State Univ. 17, Francis Marion Univ. 16 ;  Saves: Clayton State Univ. 8 (Nick Punter 8), Francis Marion Univ. 6  (Mike Warn 6)

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