Patriots clipped by Seahawks 2-0 in season opener

FLORENCE, SC – Junior midfielder Amanda Holmes scored a first-half goal and assisted on a second-half score to lead UNC Wilmington to a 2-0 win over Francis Marion University, Friday afternoon (Aug. 19) in women’s soccer action.

The match was the season opener for both squads.

Francis Marion will return to action on Sunday (Aug. 21) with a home match against High Point University at 4 p.m.  The Panthers are coached by former FMU head coach Marty Beall.

In the 30th minute, Holmes corralled the ball near the left sideline and angled back toward the middle of the field before unleashing a 17-yard shot that found the back of the net beyond the outstretched arm of FMU goalkeeper Lauren Vetock.

Francis Marion’s best scoring opportunity of the opening half came at 34:30 when junior Kelly Kady intercepted a UNCW pass and shot on goal from 19 yards out, but Seahawk keeper Caitlin Hunter made the save.

At the 77:39 mark, Holmes fed Laura Wilson in the middle of the field, 15 yards out, and the junior chipped the ball over Vetock and into the net to give the Seahawks a 2-0 advantage.

FMU freshman Chanel Harris nearly cut the margin in half, but her short shot from in front of the goal skied over the crossbar with 7:17 left in the match.  Michelle Brown and Rebeccah Hoekstra combined to pressure the Seahawk defense before feeding the ball to Harris.

Vetock finished the match with eight saves, while Hunter made three stops.  UNCW led 20-6 in shots and the Seahawks took the match’s only corner kick.

UNC Wilmington (1-0-0) def. Francis Marion Univ. (0-1-0) 2-0
Date: Aug 19, 2011  Attendance: 125
Weather: Partly Cloudy 90 degrees

Goals by period         1  2  Tot
UNC Wilmington......  1  1 -  2
Francis Marion Univ.  0  0 -  0

SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  29:42 UNCW Amanda Holmes (1) (unassisted) - 17 yard shot angling from left side
2-0.  77:39 UNCW Laura Wilson (1) (Amanda Holmes) - 15 yard chip over keeper

Shots: UNC Wilmington 20, Francis Marion Univ. 6
Saves: UNC Wilmington 3 (Caitlin Hunter 3), Francis Marion Univ. 8 (Lauren Vetock 8)

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