Dillihay's first-half score gives Patriots 1-0 win

AMERICUS, GA - Sophomore forward Adam Dillihay came off the bench to score a first-half goal and give Francis Marion University a 1-0 road win over Georgia Southwestern State University, Saturday afternoon (Sept. 26) in Peach Belt Conference men's soccer action.

FMU (5-2-1, 1-0-0), the defending PBC champions, wins its conference opener to extend its winning streak in league play to six matches.  Georgia Southwestern falls to 1-8-0 and 0-1-0.

Dillihay, a product of Columbia's Dreher High School, scored his first career goal at the 36:08 mark.  He took a long pass from defender Justin Kibler and flicked the ball past the Hurricanes' goalkeeper David Forley, who had come charging off the goal line.

Francis Marion junior Chris Foltanski nearly doubled the Patriot lead in the 79th minute, but his shot glanced off the post.  Georgia Southwestern recorded the only shot in the final 10 minutes, but it went wide to the left.

The Patriots held Georgia Southwestern without a shot for the opening 48 minutes and ended the match with a 10-9 advantage.  The Hurricanes led in corner kicks 5-1.

FMU junior goalkeeper Clark Richeson recorded three saves en route to his third shutout of 2009 and the ninth of his career.  Forley made six saves.

Francis Marion will play at Lander University on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to conclude a stretch that had seen the Patriots play seven of their first nine matches on the road.

        Adam Dillihay