ST AUGUSTINE, FL – Despite goals from sophomores Jayden Doyle and Harrison Smith, the Francis Marion University men’s soccer team dropped its Peach Belt Conference opener 3-2 on the road at Flagler College on Saturday night (Sept. 12).

The Patriots (2-1-1, 0-1-0 PBC) will travel to the University of Mount Olive on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. kickoff, before returning to Hartzler Field on Sept. 19 to host Lenoir-Rhyne University at 7 p.m.

Doyle scored the Patriots’ first goal at the 37:10 mark to tie the match at 1-1. The goal was his first of the season and came off a blocked shot by FMU freshman Gaspard Mianne that came out to the top of the box.

Smith’s tally came in the 57th minute on a corner kick with assists being credited to Doyle and senior Sven Ricke. It was Smith’s third goal of the season.

Francis Marion led the match in shots taken with 21 to Flagler’s 17, while also leading in shots on goal 11-9.  Doyle had a game-high seven shots (four on goal), and was followed up by sophomore Levin Sandmann who had three shots on goal.

FMU managed there shots in the final three minutes of the match in an effort to equalize.  Freshman Caleb Jenkins’ attempt with 13 seconds left was wide to the left.

Entering the second half down 2-1, FMU outshot Flagler 15-5 over the final 45 minutes.  Flagler improves to 1-1-1 overall and 1-0-0 in conference play.

In goal for Francis Marion, the PBC Goalkeeper of the Week, freshman Jonathan Mannes, had six saves in 90 minutes.

The Patriots doubled the Saints’ total in corner kicks by a 14-7 tally.

Flagler scored the eventual match-winning goal six minutes into the second half on an Oscar Davidsson free kick, before Smith followed up with his goal just five minutes later to trim the deficit to 3-2. Pedro Silva and Erlend Lofsgaard scored first-half goals for the Saints with Lofsgaard’s coming less than two minutes into the match.

Flagler (1-1-1; 1-0-0 PBC) def. Francis Marion Univ. (2-1-1; 0-1-0 PBC) 3-2
Date: Sep 12, 2015  Attendance: 152
Weather: 71 (71); light rain; 100% humid; 8 mph wind

Goals by period          1  2  Tot
----------------------------------------
Francis Marion Univ.  1  1 -  2
Flagler.............             2  1 -  3
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.   1:50 FLG Erlend Lofsgaard (1) (Pedro Silva) - one touch blast from 14 yards out
1-1.  37:10 FMU Jayden Doyle (1) (Gaspard Mianne) - scored off initial shot by Mianne that was blocked, shot top of box
2-1.  41:50 FLG Pedro Silva (2) (Caleb Austin) - corner kick to middle of box to Silva on a header
3-1.  51:01 FLG Oscar Davidsson (2) (unassisted) - off free kick
3-2.  56:13 FMU Harrison Smith (3) (Jayden Doyle;Sven Ricke) - played in from corner into box; top right corner of goal

Shots: Francis Marion Univ. 21, Flagler 17 ; Saves: Francis Marion Univ. 6 (Jonathan Mannes 6), Flagler 9 (Lex Craggs 9)

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