PEMBROKE – Visiting Francis Marion scored lone goals in each half of play and utilized a bend-but-not-break defense and got a little help from the woodwork to run past the UNC Pembroke men's soccer team, 2-0, on Wednesday evening at Lumbee River EMC Stadium.

The setback was the first Peach Belt Conference loss of the season for the Braves (4-5-0, 2-1-0 PBC) who fell to 3-3-0 in Pembroke this season as well. It was the second-straight PBC victory for Francis Marion (4-6-1, 3-2-0) who has now won two-straight in the series with the Black & Gold.

Branco Theis tallied a team-best five shots, including two on target, to pace the host offense, which finished the game with a 14-13 advantage in the shots column. Lucas Gusmao grabbed six saves between the pipes to anchor the defensive effort. 

European imports Levin Sandmann and Oliver Drakenhammer each netted their team-leading seventh goals of the season for the Patriots, while both players tacked up assists as well. New Zealand product Jonathan Mannes made four saves en route to throwing up his second clean sheet of the season.

Sandmann gave the Patriots the only goal they would need in the 23rd minute (22:44) when he benefitted from quick passes from both Mathias Hjort and Drakenhammer, finding himself in space alone with Gusmao before firing a shot past the freshman netminder. Drakenhammer benefitted from a Sandmann miss in the 51st minute, collecting a rebound off of a saved shot on a direct kick and putting back the rebound under a diving Gusmao.

UNCP did not go away quietly, however, and created several chances for itself in the latter period. The Braves nearly slipped a few shots past Mannes to get themselves back into the game, including a 76th minute strike by Josh Hanratty that clipped the crossbar, but could not find the back of the net.

The Black & Gold will get a week off from competition before hitting the road again on October 12 to lock horns with Flagler (4-5-1, 4-2-0) at Saints Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.