ORANGEBURG, SC - The University of Maine pushed across a first-half goal and the Black Bears' defense made that tally stand up for a 1-0 win over Francis Marion University, Sunday afternoon (Sept. 2) on the final day of the Sleep Inn Women's Soccer Classic in Orangeburg, S.C.

Francis Marion drops to 2-2-1, while Maine ups its mark to 3-2-0.  The Patriots return home for a two-match homestand, entertaining USC Upstate on Friday at 7 p.m. and Charleston Southern University on Sunday (Sept. 9) at 2 p.m.

Maine led in shots 16-4 and held a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.

The match's lone score came at 10:19 when senior midfielder Maddie Hill slotted the ball into the back right corner of the goal, following assists from Nikki Misener and Maggie Malone.

FMU freshman goalkeeper Taylor O'Berry recorded eight saves, including one spectacular diving stop in the second half, while Maine's Lauren Swant registered two stops.

Twice Swant gave Francis Marion opportunities to net the tying score.  Midway through the first half, Francis Marion sophomore forward Dominique Evans lunged to intercept an outlet pass from Swant in the 18-yard box, but the keeper was able to smother the ball before Evans could regain her balance and shoot on the open net.

In the second half, a clearance from Swant hit forward Chanel Harris, but the ball bounced right back to Swant who picked it up and punted the sphere away.

Swant also stopped the shots from FMU senior Kelly Kady in the 35th minute and sophomore Brittney Smith in the 52nd minute.

 

Francis Marion Univ. (2-2-1) vs. MAINE (3-2-0)
Date: Sep 02, 2012  Attendance: 59
Weather: Sunny and Hot

Goals by period         1  2  Tot
-------------------------------------
Francis Marion Univ.  0  0 -  0
MAINE...............        1  0 -  1
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  10:19 MAINE Maddie Hill (Nikki Misener;Maggie Malone)

Shots: Francis Marion Univ. 4, MAINE 16 ; Saves: Francis Marion Univ. 8 (Taylor O'Berry 8), MAINE 2 (Lauren Swant 2) ;  Sleep Inn Classic at S.C. State University in Orangeburg, SC