FLORENCE, SC – Freshman forward Juan Rivas scored a pair of goals and the Francis Marion University defense recorded its second straight shutout as the Patriots blanked visiting Mount Olive College 4-0, Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 19) in non-conference men’s soccer action.

Francis Marion improves to 3-5-0, gives first-year head coach Kevin Varnado his first home victory, and registers back-to-back shutouts for the first time in five seasons.  Mount Olive drops to 3-5-0.

The Patriots will play host to 10th-ranked Carson-Newman College on Saturday at 2 p.m., while the Trojans visit Queens University of Charlotte on Saturday for a 4:30 p.m. Conference Carolinas’ match.

Rivas gave FMU a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute when he took a pass from freshman Ivan Juric, got pass Mount Olive goalkeeper Ryan McCrickard, and slid a seven-yard shot into the open goal.  The margin doubled to 2-0 with 17 seconds remaining in the first half when Juric scored on a 13-yard shot from the left side.  Junior Willie Hunt assisted on the second tally.

Rivas recorded his team-leading seventh goal of the season at 74:19 when he received a cross from freshman Gregory Harley and scored on an 8-yard shot.  Sophomore Kyle Clinton concluded the scoring when he intercepted a Mount Olive pass back and chipped a shot over McCrickard for an unassisted goal at 80:10.

The margin could have been five, but McCrickard stopped a penalty kick by Clinton in the 76th minute, the result of an intentional handball in the box by Trojan Tommy Gartz.  Gartz was trying to protect an open goal as McCrickard had come out to challenge on a ball at the top of the box.

Francis Marion outshot Mount Olive 15-11 and held a slight 8-7 edge in corner kicks.  FMU junior goalkeeper Jeremy Crooks compiled five saves in the opening 83:34, while senior Charlie Vivas, seeing his first action as a Patriot, played the final 6:26.

McCrickard made four stops in his time (84:19) in goal, before being relieved by Chase Smith.

Mount Olive College vs Francis Marion Univ. (Sep 19, 2007 at Florence, SC)

Mount Olive College (3-5-0) vs. Francis Marion Univ. (3-5-0)

Date: Sep 19, 2007  Attendance: 71

Weather: Cloudy 80 degrees

Goals by period       1  2  Tot

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Mount Olive College.  0  0 -  0

Francis Marion Univ.  2  2 -  4

SCORING SUMMARY:

1-0.  37:00 FMU Rivas, Juan (6) (Juric, Ivan) - beat GK 7 yard shot

2-0.  44:43 FMU Juric, Ivan (2) (Hunt, Willie) - 13 yard shot from left side

3-0.  74:19 FMU Rivas, Juan (7) (Harley, Gregory) - cross from left 8 yard shot

4-0.  80:10 FMU Clinton, Kyle (2) (unassisted) - intercepted pass back chip over GK

Shots: Mount Olive 11, Francis Marion 15 ; Saves: Mount Olive 4 (Ryan McCrickard 4), Francis Marion 5 (Crooks, Jeremy 5).