BANNER ELK, NC (Oct. 8, 2013) – The Francis Marion men’s soccer team fought hard for 110 minutes and earned a 0-0 draw with Lees-McRae college in non-conference men’s soccer action Tuesday night in Banner Elk, N.C.

The Patriots (5-1-3) return to the field, and Peach Belt Conference play, Saturday, Oct. 12, as they travel to northern Georgia to face No.12 Young Harris College. Match time is set for 4:00 p.m.

The match marked only the second time in team history that the Patriots have recorded two scoreless ties in one season. Patriot net minder Nick Stover also increased his scoreless streak in goal to 250 minutes.

Stover finished with a match-high five saves, including a crucial save in the first overtime period. Senior Cody Ferrier paced the Patriot offense with four shots on goal, while Alex Blandin and Benjamin Kwast each tallied two.

Lees-McRae goalkeeper Thomas Rusling finished the match with three saves, while Scott Alford registered a match-high nine shots.  

The Bobcats (5-4-1) controlled play through most of the first half, and finished with a 7-3 advantage in shots. FMU’s best chance in the first period to put a goal on the board came in the 27th minute, when Kwast fired a shot just over the crossbar and a diving Rusling.

In the second half, the Patriots took back momentum from the Bobcats in the 75th minute when Ferrier collected a beautiful cross from Shahin Hemat, but pushed the ball just left of the net. Ferrier had another chance to pick up the game-winner in the 80th minute, but this time pushed the ball just right of the goal.

The Patriots were unable to get a shot off in the first overtime period, compared to two for the Bobcats, neither resulting in a save for Stover. In the second overtime frame, Kwast got a shot off in the 105th minute, but Rusling made his final save of the game to keep the score at zero.

 

Francis Marion Univ. (5-1-3) ties Lees-McRae College (5-4-1) 0-0

Date: Oct 08, 2013  Attendance: 731

Weather:

 

Goals by period           1  2 OT O2  Tot

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Francis Marion Univ.  0  0  0  0 -  0

Lees-McRae..........     0  0  0  0 -  0

SCORING SUMMARY:  NONE

Shots: Francis Marion Univ. 14, Lees-McRae 17 ; Saves: Francis Marion Univ. 5 (Nick Stover 5), Lees-McRae 3 (Thomas Rusling 3)