AMERICUS, GA – Sophomore forward Alex Blandin continued his scoring binge as he tallied a pair of goals and Francis Marion University withstood a late Georgia Southwestern State University rally to claim a 3-2 Peach Belt Conference road win on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 22).

The Patriots improve to 4-10-1 overall and 2-3-1 in the PBC.  FMU will entertain local conference rival UNC Pembroke on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in a key PBC match-up.

Blandin collected a miss-hit ball by a Georgia Southwestern defender and scored on a 10-yard shot to the far post in the 30th minute.

The margin grew to 2-0 at the 66:28 mark of the second half.  A pass by senior midfielder Cameron Mabee found freshman Igor Souza at the left edge of the box and Souza connected on a 7-yard shot to the far post.

However, the Hurricanes responded quickly and Jon-Luke Cannada scored just 33 seconds later to trim the margin to 2-1. 

Blandin then restored the Patriots’ two-goal lead when he flicked the ball to himself and scored on a 12-yard shot that deflected off the hands of Georgia Southwestern goalkeeper Garrett Blamire and into the goal.  The score is Blandin’s seventh in the past five matches and his team-leading ninth of 2011, second-best in the Peach Belt.

The Hurricanes again cut the margin to one score at 3-2 with a tally in the 85th minute, but the Patriots were able to hold off any further Georgia Southwestern attacks.

Both FMU freshman goalkeeper Nick Lucido and Blamire finished the match with five saves.  Francis Marion held a 15-12 advantage in shots, while the Hurricanes led 12-4 in corner kicks.

Francis Marion Univ. (4-10-1, 2-3-1 PBC) def. Georgia Southwestern (3-10-2, 0-6-1 PBC) 3-2
Date: Oct 22, 2011  Attendance: 113
Weather: 69 degrees with mostly sunny skies

Goals by period             1  2  Tot
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Francis Marion Univ.    1  2 -  3
Georgia Southwestern  0  2 -  2

SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  29:41 FMU Blandin, Alex (8) (unassisted) - 10 got it off mishit by GSW D, drove right shot from 10 yrds far pst
2-0.  66:28 FMU Souza, Igor (2) (Mabee, Cameron) - 24 to 7 at left edge of box, 7 shot far post
2-1.  67:01 GSW-M Cannada, Jon-Luke (2) (unassisted) - 13 shot from 9 yrds to far post
3-1.  72:29 FMU Blandin, Alex (9) (unassisted) - 10 flicked to himself and shot from 12 off hands of GK
3-2.  84:48 GSW-M Wakenigg, Ryan (4) (unassisted) - Cross deflected to 19 at left end of 8 yrd box, shot near post

Shots: Francis Marion Univ. 15, Georgia Southwestern 12
Saves: Francis Marion Univ. 5 (Lucido, Nick 5), Georgia Southwestern 5 (Blamire, Garret 5)

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