Patriots joust Lancers 3-0 on Senior Day

FLORENCE, SC - Senior midfielder Jennifer Dyer scored once and assisted on a second goal, while freshmen reserves Rebeccah Hoekstra and Kelly Kady also found the back of the net to carry Francis Marion University to a 3-0 shutout of Longwood University, Sunday afternoon (Oct. 18) in women's soccer action.

The Patriots (3-11-1) capture their second straight 3-0 victory, and will end their season on Oct. 29 at N.C. State University.  Longwood falls to 8-7-1.

Prior to the Senior Day match, Francis Marion recognized its four seniors playing their final home match: Dyer, midfielder/defender Angela Salem, defender Rachel Rubin, and goalkeeper/defender Emily Brandenburg.

Hoekstra came off the bench and gave the Patriots a 1-0 lead at the 24:41 mark.  She received a pass from Dyer on the right side, beat her defender with a one-touch back to her left and the middle of the field, and then fired a 15-yard shot into the netting.

Kady doubled the margin with an unassisted tally in the 71st minute.  She corralled a failed clearance by Longwood and lofted an arching 17-yard shot over Longwood goalkeeper Marcia Biddle.  Only 1:38 later, Dyer upped the margin to 3-0 when she possessed a loose ball and scored on a 15-yard shot.

Kady also fired a 20-yard shot in the 69th minute that clanged off the crossbar.

The FMU defense held the Lancers to only one shot attempt in the 18-yard box.  The Patriots outshot Longwood 12-6 despite the Lancers holding a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.

FMU sophomore goalkeeper Casey Durham recorded three saves and extended her scoreless streak in goal to 203:09.  Biddle registered three saves in the loss.

First-year FMU head coach Joel Person praised his team's effort saying "I am proud of the way we played today to honor our seniors.  We have been concentrating all season on getting better every time out, and it is exciting to see our efforts playing off.  Things are starting to clink and our future looks bright."

        Jennifer Dyer