FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University women’s soccer team finished 2007 as the 15th highest scoring team in NCAA Division I, while Patriot senior Ashley Fortune led all of Division I in assists, according to the end-of-the-season statistical report.
The Patriots, in their first year as a full-fledged member of Division I, recorded a 10-7-1 mark and scored 45 goals for a 2.50 goals per match average. Jackson State University led the nation with a 3.59 goals per match average, while Florida State University was second at 3.00 goals per match.
Fortune, aided by a national-record eight assists against Howard University during a match in October, tallied 14 helpers in 15 matches for a nation-leading 0.93 per match average. Kerri Hanks of Notre Dame was second at 0.81 assists per match.
Fortune, a native of Bothell, Wash., also ranked fifth nationally in points per match (2.13) and 41st in goals per match (0.60). She scored nine times in her 15 matches.
Patriot sophomore Kirby Stenard was seventh in goals, with 15 in 18 matches for a 0.83 per match average, and 17th in points per match (1.78). In only two seasons, the Cincinnati native has amassed career totals of 29 goals and six assists in 37 contests.
FMU sophomore Angela Salem (Copley, Ohio) ranked 18th nationally in assists per match with nine in 18 matches for a 0.50 average.
Francis Marion’s 14 goals in the Oct. 21 win over Howard was the top scoring performance by a Division I squad in 2007. Fortune’s 16 points, eight assists, and four goals against Howard all topped the individual single-match categories for 2007. Salem’s three assists in the same match tied for 10th best among Division I women’s players in 2007.
FMU, which owns an 88-16-5 all-time home record, opens its 2008 season on Aug. 29 at home against Wake Forest University. Head coach Marty Beall will lose only four seniors from his 2007 squad.
NCAA Women's Soccer Division I Scoring Offense
Rank Name Games Goals Per Game
1 Jackson St. 17 61 3.59
2 Florida St. 27 81 3.00
3 Texas A&M 24 69 2.88
4 Alabama A&M 20 56 2.80
5 Furman 23 64 2.78
6 Hawaii 22 59 2.68
7 Grambling 21 56 2.67
8 UCLA 24 63 2.63
9 Purdue 25 65 2.60
10 North Texas 23 59 2.57
11 Western Ky. 20 51 2.55
12 Portland 22 56 2.55
Memphis 22 56 2.55
14 Notre Dame 26 66 2.54
15 Francis Marion 18 45 2.50
16 Missouri 22 53 2.41
17 Stephen F. Austin 20 48 2.40
18 Mississippi Val. 21 50 2.38
19 Radford 19 45 2.37
20 North Carolina 24 56 2.33
