PEMBROKE, NC – Rico Laitinen scored the game-deciding goal on a 30-yard blast early in the second half and UNC Pembroke went on to edge Francis Marion University 2-1, Wednesday evening (Oct. 10) in Peach Belt Conference men’s soccer play.

Francis Marion falls to 3-7-1 overall and 0-4-1 in the PBC.  Five of the team’s losses have been by one goal.  The Patriots will return home to host Clayton State University for a PBC match on Saturday at 7 p.m.

UNCP (8-3-0, 3-3-0) took a 1-0 lead on a rebound goal by Matt MacDougall in the 16th minute.  The Patriots evened the score at 1-1 when junior forward Cody Farrier scored his team-leading sixth goal of 2012 at the 30:24 mark. Freshman midfielder Pascal Magiera assisted on the score which came from the right corner of the box.

Laitinen tallied his match-winner only 4:48 into the second half.

FMU’s Robin Schittenhelm and Henrique Guitti both registered shots that forced saves by Braves goalkeeper Ryan Hanson over the final 20 minutes.  Patriot goalkeeper Logan Fisher had the final attempt to the tie the score, but his effort was wide left with two seconds remaining.

Fisher recorded four saves, while Hanson tallied nine.  UNCP outshot the Patriots 18-13, but Francis Marion held a slim lead in corner kicks, 4-2.

Both Schittenhelm and Guitti paced FMU with three shots apiece.

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