FLORENCE, SC – Freshman forward Kylie McElroy scored a pair of goals and assisted on a third to help lift Francis Marion University to a 3-0 victory over Georgia Southwestern State University, Saturday evening (Oct. 21) in Peach Belt Conference women’s soccer action.

Francis Marion improves to 5-8-0 overall and 2-7-0 in the PBC, while the Hurricanes drop to 0-13-0 and 0-8-0.  FMU will play its final home match of the 2017 campaign on Wednesday when the Patriots host nationally ranked Flagler College at 7:30 p.m.

Junior goalkeeper Janine Gordon registered two saves en route to her second shutout of 2017, while the backline of Jessica Garnett, Brooke Kennedy, Dayle McEwen, and Sierra Cartano help limit the Hurricanes to only four shots.

The Patriots took a 1-0 lead at the 30:48 mark on a score by freshman Megan Misuraca, her fourth of the year.  The play began with McEwen taking a free kick from midfield.  The ball flew to McElroy at the top of the penalty area and she guided it to the right side where Misuraca found the back of the net from 13 yards out.

McElroy then scored twice in the second half, in the 54th and 82nd minutes, to account for the final margin.  Her first goal came after a service from freshman Sarah Moll found her foot for a one-touch score inside the six-yard box.  The final tally came on a five-yard header after freshman Emma Hall crossed the ball from the far right corner.

McElroy now leads FMU with five goals and 13 points.

On a day when the Patriots honored their three seniors – forward Haley Bigler, midfielder Breanna Henderson, and injured defender Melina Much – freshmen accounted for all the FMU points.

Francis Marion finished the match with 17 shots and held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.

GSW goalkeeper Sammie Conley recorded five saves.

 

Francis Marion Univ. (5-8-0 , 2-7-0 PBC) def. Georgia Southwestern (0-13-0 , 0-8-0 PBC) 3-0
Date: Oct 21, 2017  Attendance: 100
Weather: Hazy, 81, Winds E @ 4 mph

Goals by period            1  2  Tot
-----------------------------------------
Georgia Southwestern  0  0 -  0
Francis Marion Univ.     1  2 -  3
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.  30:48 FMU_W Megan Misuraca (4) (Kylie McElroy;Dayle McEwen) - Free kick midfield, laid off to right, 13 yard shot
2-0.  53:10 FMU_W Kylie McElroy (4) (Sarah Moll) - Service from left side to 6-yard box, one-touch shot from there
3-0.  81:32 FMU_W Kylie McElroy (5) (Emma Hall) - Header from 5 yards after cross from far right

Shots: Georgia Southwestern 4, Francis Marion Univ. 17 ; Saves: Georgia Southwestern 5 (Sammie Conley 5), Francis Marion Univ. 2 (Janine Gordon 2)