MORROW, GA – Sekou Thornell scored a first-half goal and Jonny Evans added a second score six minutes after halftime as Clayton State University defeated Francis Marion University 2-0, Sunday afternoon (Oct. 18) in Peach Belt Conference men’s soccer action.

Francis Marion (8-4-1, 3-3-0) will return home to celebrate Senior Night on Wednesday when the Patriots entertain USC Aiken at 7 p.m. on Hartzler Field.

Despite outshooting the Lakers 17-14, FMU was unable to find the back of the net on Sunday.  Only seven of the Patriot attempts were on frame. Clayton State (7-4-1, 3-3-0) held a slight 3-2 edge in corner kicks.

In the 25th minute, graduate forward Iain Smith crossed a ball in front of the goal, finding Thornell who chipped it into the left side of the goal for a 1-0 advantage.  At the 51:27 mark, senior midfielder Avery Shepard found Evans just to the right of the net. Evans then drove the ball into the back left corner for a 2-0 lead.

Sophomore Levin Sandmann led the Patriots with five shots, two on goal, while sophomore Gael Mabiala produced four shots with one coming on net.

FMU freshman goalkeeper Robert Schreiner saw his first collegiate action, recording five saves in his 90 minutes.  Clayton State senior goalkeeper Viltsu Tuumi earned the shutout while notching seven saves.

A shot by Patriot sophomore Thomas Kues forced a save by Viltsu in the 50th minute, but that would be Francis Marion’s last shot on goal.

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