FLORENCE, S.C. – Junior Sam Miles helped the UNC Pembroke men's soccer team bring the contest to a tied score in the 19th minute with a shot inside the box, but Francis Marion used a pair of second half goals to turn back the visiting Braves with a 3-1 victory on Wednesday evening in Peach Belt Conference action at Hartzler Field.

The setback marked the second-straight loss for UNCP (5-3-0, 2-2-0 PBC), while Francis Marion (4-1-2, 2-1-0) earned its second conference victory of the season. The Patriots rattled off 17 shots, including 12 on target, in the key PBC win. Senior goalkeeper Ryan Hanson registered a season-best nine saves for the Braves who also allowed three goals in his 90 minutes between posts.

"I thought we did well in the first half, but Francis Marion took over in the later part of the second half," said UNCP head coach Phil Hindson. "The guys fought really hard, but we had too many key players missing and they wore us down as the game went on."

Miles added to his shot total with a team-best five strikes for the Black and Gold, as sophomore Adam Smith and newcomer Kevin Vigebo each notched one shot. Cody Farrier, Shahin Hemat and Sven Ricke each scored goals and dished out assists for Francis Marion, with Alex Blandin and Lukas Pousset tallying assists as well. Nick Stover recorded three saves between the pipes for the hosts, while also yielding the lone UNCP goal as well. 

A scoreless game through the first five minutes of the matchup, Hemat delivered a perfect service from the top of the box at the 5:32 mark which would leave the Braves wanting over the next 13 minutes, but an eight yard shot from a tight angle on the right side by Miles from Faustin Pierre delivered a 1-1 tie heading into the break.

The Patriots would bust loose in the second half, however, getting a 66th minute goal from Ricke to go ahead for good, and then adding an insurance goal in the 71st minute off the foot of Farrier. UNCP was unable to attempt a late rally as Francis Marion clinched the two-score advantage on the night.

The Braves finished with 22 fouls compared to eight by the Patriots, as UNCP collected all four yellow cards with three handed out in the second half.

The Braves return home for the first time in three weeks when they lace up to battle Flagler (3-3-2, 1-2-1) in the second half of a 5:00 p.m. doubleheader at Varsity Grounds.