BELMONT, NC – Belmont Abbey College junior forward Luis Arrietta scored the only goal of the match in the 12th minute, firing home a rebound off of a Nick Wyatt shot, and the Crusaders held on for a 1-0 non-conference win over Francis Marion University, Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 5) in men's soccer action at Alumni Field.

Belmont Abbey (4-2-0) held FMU (1-2-0) to just two shots as the Crusaders won their third straight match, all by 1-0 scores.

The Crusaders, ranked fifth in the Southeast Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association, put heavy pressure on Francis Marion and tallied the only goal they would need at the 11:47 mark.  Wyatt ripped a shot that was blocked by a Patriot defender, and the rebound caromed to Arrietta, who was all alone in the six-yard box, just to the right of the goal, and he fired home his sixth goal of the year.  Arrietta has scored six goals in six matches, and has scored a goal in every match but one.

Belmont Abbey recorded 11 shots, and only a couple of brilliant saves by Patriot goalkeeper Nick Krywyj kept the Crusaders from scoring again.  Krywyj recorded eight saves.  The Abbey also held a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Francis Marion plays its home opener on Friday at 4 p.m. against local rival Coker College.

Francis Marion Univ. (1-2-0) vs. Belmont Abbey (4-2-0)