FLORENCE, SC – Freshman midfielder Manuel Hernandez scored a pair of goals and North Georgia College & State University held off a late charge by Francis Marion University to claim a 3-1 Peach Belt Conference win, Saturday afternoon (Oct. 29) in men’s college soccer action.

The loss spoiled Senior Day for the Patriots who honored three four-year lettermen before the match: forward Adam Dillihay, midfield/defender Cameron Mabee, and defender Adrian Williams.  FMU ends its regular season with a 4-12-1 overall mark and a 2-5-1 record in PBC play.

Francis Marion will play a Peach Belt Conference Tournament first-round match on Tuesday at an opponent yet to be determined.

FMU junior defender Travis Bally scored the Patriots’ lone goal in the 84th minute.  Sophomore forward Alex Blandin dribbled along the end line on the right side before crossing the ball to Bally who charged in and connected on an 8-yard shot.  It was his second goal in two seasons as a Patriot.

Francis Marion continued pressing in the North Georgia defensive end, but was unable to push across another tally before the final whistle.

Hernandez gave the Saints a 1-0 advantage at the 9:08 mark.  Following an offside call against FMU, North Georgia goalkeeper Rade Tanaskovic took the free kick and found Hernandez about 13 yards from the goal.  Hernandez settled the ball and flicked it into the netting on the far left side.

Gray Phelps took a feed from Korey Daigle and scored on a 12-yard shot in the 11th minute to up the margin to 2-0.  Hernandez completed the North Georgia scoring in the 65th minute as both Max Angel and Phelps assisted on the goal.

FMU freshman goalkeeper Nick Lucido end the match with five saves, while Tanaskovic registered two stops.  North Georgia led in shots 15-7 and in corner kicks 5-4.

North Georgia (9-6-1 , 5-3-0 PBC) def. Francis Marion Univ. (4-12-1 , 2-5-1 PBC) 3-1
Date: Oct 29, 2011  Attendance: 77               Weather: Windy, Mostly Sunny, 54 degrees

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

SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.   9:08 NORTHGEO Manuel Hernandez (6) (Rade Tanaskovic) - Received free kick from GK, settled, 13 yd flick in
2-0.  10:29 NORTHGEO Gray Phelps (4) (Korey Daigle) - Through ball up middle, 12 yd shot
3-0.  64:46 NORTHGEO Manuel Hernandez (7) (Max Angel;Gray Phelps) - Pass in, one-touch ahead, 5 yd chop shot
3-1.  83:08 FMU Bally, Travis (1) (Blandin, Alex) - Dribbled up end line, cross, 8 yd shot

Shots: North Georgia 15, Francis Marion Univ. 7
Saves: North Georgia 2 (Rade Tanaskovic 2), Francis Marion Univ. 5 (Lucido, Nick 5)

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