FMU Men fall to Panthers on overtime penalty kick

FLORENCE, SC – Senior defender Ryan Moon converted a penalty kick with 1:38 remaining in overtime to give Florida Tech a 3-2 win over Francis Marion University, Saturday afternoon (Sept. 4) in non-conference men's college soccer action.

The defeat overshadowed a dramatic rally by Francis Marion.  The Patriots (0-2-0) trailed 2-0 at halftime and did not record a shot for the first 49 minutes of the match.

However, freshman Alex Blandin came up with a loose ball and drilled a 16-yard shot by Panther goalkeeper Derrick Hackett in the 50th minute to trim the margin to 2-1.  At the 70:13 mark, Patriot freshman Jeran Nanthakumar took a short cross from Chris Foltanski and scored from 12 yards out to knot the score at 2-2.

The Patriots nearly won the match in the 106th minute when Travis Bally’s free kick deflected off Hackett’s hand and then off the crossbar.

The match-deciding sequence began with Florida Tech’s David Tufft heading a cross toward the Patriot goal.  The shot was altered by the arm of a Patriot defender in the box.  On the ensuing penalty kick, Moon converted a first attempt but had to retake the shot when a Panther player entered the box prematurely.  Moon was also successful on his second attempt.

The Panthers had taken the lead on goals by Ricardo Menendez in the sixth minute and Michael O’Farrell in the 38th minute.

Florida Tech (1-0-0) outshot the Patriots 16-5 and led 6-3 in corner kicks.  FMU senior goalkeeper Clark Richeson registered three saves, while Hackett’s only stop was on Bally’s blast in the overtime period.

Francis Marion will play at Limestone College on Wednesday at 4 p.m.  Florida Tech visits Coker College on Monday at noon.

Florida Tech (1-0-0) def. Francis Marion Univ. (0-2-0) 3-2 in OT
Date: Sep 04, 2010  Attendance: 117
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 85 degrees

Goals by period         1  2 OT O2  Tot
---------------------------------------------
Florida Tech........       2  0  0  1 -  3
Francis Marion Univ.  0  2  0  0 -  2

SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0.   5:16 FTM Ricardo Menendez (1) (Gary Ogilvie) - arching shot from 15 yards into side of goal
2-0.  37:16 FTM Michael O'Farrell (1) (Sam Ormsby) - pass ahead 16-yard chip over keeper
2-1.  49:54 FMU Blandin, Alex (1) (unassisted) - take away top of box driven through keeper from 16 yards
2-2.  70:13 FMU Nanthakumar, Jeran (1) (Foltanski, Chris) - cross from near left to 12 yards in front of goal
3-2. 108:22 FTM Ryan Moon (1) Penalty kick (handball on FMU in the box)

Shots: Florida Tech 16, Francis Marion Univ. 5
Saves: Florida Tech 0 (Derrick Hackett 1), Francis Marion Univ. 3 (Richeson, Clark 3)