FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore Levin Sandmann scored on a 14-yard shot with 35.7 seconds remaining in regulation to hand Francis Marion University a 2-1 victory over USC Aiken, Thursday night (Oct. 13) in Peach Belt Conference men's soccer action.

Francis Marion, 5-6-1 overall and 4-2-0 in the PBC, moves into a second-place tie in the conference standings.  USCA drops to 2-9-0 and 1-4-0.

The next scheduled match for FMU is at home on Tuesday night (Oct. 18) against Erskine College at 7 p.m. on Hartzler Field. That match was recently moved up a day from Wednesday evening.  The Patriots then host the defending conference champion Young Harris College on Thursday (Oct. 20) at 7 p.m.

Sandmann tallied his fifth goal in the past three matches, and eighth of the year (second-best in the PBC), with his score at the 89:25 mark. Junior Gael Mabiala assisted on the score. Sandmann was able to score on a deflected ball that became loose inside of the box after a long run from Mabiala.

The Patriots looked to take an early advantage in the seventh minute but Sandmann's 28-yard free kick hit the right post.  Both teams would head into the locker room scoreless after the first 45 minutes of play.

USCA staked itself out to a 1-0 lead at the 52:25 mark on a goal by senior Nathan Shanko. The score was the second of the season for Shanko and was assisted by fellow senior Adria Dalmau after his through ball found the foot of Shanko. The play pulled Francis Marion sophomore goalkeeper Jonathan Mannes out to the top of the penalty area and Shanko slotted a 16-yard attempt into the netting.

FMU would return the favor and tie the match at 1-1 in the 55th minute with a goal from freshman Mathias Hjort. After receiving a through ball from junior Gaspard Mianne, Sandmann crossed the ball from the left side and Hjort settled and spun for a 12-yard attempt that beat USCA goalkeeper Orlando Maldovan. It was Hjort's second score of the season.

Mannes recorded six saves in the contest for FMU, while Maldovan finished with seven stops.  Among Mannes’ saves was a tipped ball over the crossbar in the 76th minute that came on a shot by USCA’s Jordan Misiri and kept the match deadlocked.

The Patriots outshot USCA 20-11. Both teams would take six corner kicks in the match.

Sandmann paced Francis Marion with six shots, three of which were on frame.

Francis Marion Unvi. (5-6-1, 4-2-0 PBC) def. USC Aiken (2-9-0 , 1-4-0 PBC) 2-1
Date: Oct 13, 2016  Attendance: 103
Weather: Clear, 80 degrees, Winds N @ 6 mph

Goals by period         1  2  Tot
---------------------------------------
USC Aiken...........     0  1 -  1
Francis Marion Univ.  0  2 -  2
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
0-1.  52:25 USCA Nathan Shanko (2) (Adria Dalmau) - Through ball, GK came out, slotted 16 yard shot past GK
1-1.  54:11 FMU Mathias Hjort (2) (Gaspard Mianne;Levin Sandmann) - Through ball to left, cross to #22, turn and shoot from 12 yards
2-1.  89:25 FMU Levin Sandmann (8) (Gael Mabiala) - Deflected ball after long run, 14 yard shot from left side

Shots: USC Aiken 11, Francis Marion Univ. 20 ; Saves: USC Aiken 7 (Orlando Maldovan 7), Francis Marion Univ. 6 (Jonathan Mannes 6)

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