FLORENCE, SC -  Junior forward Jesse Pitts scored two first-half goals to erase an early deficit and Belmont Abbey College went on to claim a 2-1 non-conference victory over Francis Marion University, Sunday afternoon (Aug. 26) in men’s soccer action.

Belmont Abbey improved to 2-0-0 on the young season, while FMU fell to 0-2-0. Francis Marion returns to action on Friday at Queens University of Charlotte for a 7 p.m. match.

Patriot freshman Juan Rivas, making his first collegiate start, gave Francis Marion a 1-0 advantage in the fifth minute when he scored on a 15-yard shot. Alden Brooks and Kyle Clinton assisted on the goal which was the result of the ball being played up the left sideline and crossed to the middle where it was then deflected to Rivas.

Pitts knotted the score at 1-1 at the 11:28 mark when he intercepted an outlet pass from FMU goalkeeper Jeremy Crooks and scored from 14 yards out. Kyle Fenner then fed Pitts for the match-deciding goal, a 15-yard shot from the left side, in the 32nd minute.

Both teams recorded 16 shots and each squad took three corner kicks. Crooks finished with one save, while junior keeper Bryan Alenky compiled four saves for the Crusaders. 

Francis Marion had a chance to tie the match in the 61st minute, but Clinton’s free kick following a Belmont Abbey foul was snagged by a diving Alenky. Neither team recorded a shot in the final 14:50 of the match.