Morrow, Ga. (Oct. 19, 2013) – Sophomore Tyler Norris and senior Alex Blandin each scored a goal, and the Francis Marion University men's soccer team earned a 2-0 victory over Clayton State, Saturday afternoon in Morrow, Ga.

FMU improves to 7-2-3 overall this season, and 4-2 in Peach Belt Play. It was the Patriots fifth shutout this season.

The Patriots return to action Wednesday, Oct. 23 as they welcome USC Aiken to Hartzler Field for the final regular-season home match of the 2013 season. Prior to the match FMU will honor seniors Simon Nett, Stefan Gojic, Cody Ferrier, and Blandin.

Freshman goalkeeper Mike Warn earned the shutout victory in his first career collegiate start. He finished the match with three saves. Nick Punter took the loss for Clayton State (8-3-2, 3-2-1 PBC), despite making four saves.

Norris opened the scoring for the Patriots in just the third minute when he corralled a corner kick from Sven Ricke, and put the ball past Punter into the lower right corner of the goal. It was Norris' third goal of the season, while Ricke was credited with his with his team-leading seventh assist.

The Lakers nearly tied the match in the 14th minute when Alhagi Toure got a shot off, but Warn made his first save to keep the score at 1-0. FMU almost got its second goal from Lukas Pousset in the 25th minute, but Punter recorded the save.

In the second half, Blandin put the Patriots up 2-0 with his goal in the 52nd minute. Blandin took a pass from Ferrier, and fired a shot into the lower right corner from 12 yards out. Ferrier was credited with the assist, his fourth of the season, while Blandin tallied his third goal of the season.

Warn made his final three saves in the last 20 minutes of the match, including a save on a shot from the Lakers' Matt Lowrie in the 86th minute to preserve the shutout.

Clayton State held a slight 15-12 advantage on shots, but FMU had four shots on frame compared to just three for the Lakers. The Patriots also held a 5-3 advantage on corner kicks.

 

Francis Marion Univ. (7-2-3; 4-2) def. Clayton St. (8-3-2; 3-2-1) 2-0
Date: Oct 19, 2013  Attendance: 50
Weather: overcast, 67 degrees

Goals by period          1  2  Tot
-------------------------------------
Francis Marion Univ.  1  1 -  2
Clayton St..........           0  0 -  0
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1.   2:58 FMU_M Tyler Norris (3) (Sven Ricke) - shot off corner, lower right
2.  51:26 FMU_M Alex Blandin (3) (Cody Farrier) - pass, shot lower left 12 yards

Shots: Francis Marion Univ. 12, Clayton St. 15 ; Saves: Francis Marion Univ. 3 (Mike Warn 3), Clayton St. 4 (Nick Punter 4)