FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion used two second half goals by Levin Sandmann and a seven-save performance from goalkeeper Jonathan Mannes to key a 2-1 victory over the visiting UNC Pembroke men's soccer team on Tuesday evening at Hartzler Field.
It was the third-straight 2-1 loss for the Braves (4-5-1, 1-3-1 PBC) who were playing just their third game in 16 days on Monday evening. Francis Marion (8-3-1, 3-2-0) won for the fifth time in the last six outings and avoided dropping consecutive games for the first time all season with the triumph. The Patriots also stretched their series unbeaten streak out to three games as well.
Josh Phelps rattled off a team-best five shots (four on goal) and scored the lone goal of the night for the Black & Gold, who also got four saves from netminder Kenneth Perkinson. Harrison Smith recorded a team-best three shots for the hosts, but Sandmann was successful on both of his shot opportunities.
"I thought that we played very well," said UNCP head coach Phil Hindson. "We just aren't getting that little bounce in front of the goal at the moment."
Francis Marion did not record a shot on goal until the 45th minute, but the Patriots were the first to get off the mark when Sandmann took advantage of a failed clearance and fired a shot past Perkinson just 22 seconds into the second period. The Braves got off a flurry of shots over the game's next 20 minutes, but finally evened things back up on a 65th minute penalty kick by Phelps following a Patriots foul inside the penalty area.
Phelps nearly put the Braves on top seconds later, but his quality strike careened off the crossbar and out of danger. Sandmann would put the Patriots ahead for good in the 72nd minute when he dribbled across the top of the box and cut a shot back inside the far post.
The Patriots got a bulk of the whistles on the night and tacked up a 16-5 disparity in the fouls column, including three yellow card infractions.
The Braves will continue their season-long four-game road trip on Saturday when they trek to Dahlonega, Ga., to battle North Georgia (2-8-1, 1-3-0). Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the UNG Soccer Complex.
