FLORENCE, SC –­­ Sophomore Kirby Stenard scored the match’s lone goal 24 seconds into the second half and Francis Marion University went on to claim a 1-0 victory over visiting Longwood University, Sunday afternoon (Oct. 14) in women’s college soccer action.

Francis Marion (6-5-1) wins its second consecutive match and registers its fourth shutout of 2007, while Longwood falls to 6-6-0 and is blanked for the fourth time this season.

The scoreless first half featured only eight combined shots, five of which were on goal.

After halftime, FMU took the kickoff and quickly moved down field. A cross from the left side was cleared out by a Longwood defender, but only a few yards. The ball landed at the feet of Stenard, 10 yards from the net, and she lofted the ball over the arms of Longwood goalkeeper Anne Whitmore.

The Patriots nearly doubled their advantage in the 57th minute. Stenard played the ball through to Ashley Fortune in the box, and Fortune calmly back-passed the ball to a hard-charging Emily Setzler, who facing an open net, saw her shot glance off the right post.

Longwood made a late push to tie the score, with three shots in the final eight minutes. Ashlee McConnell’s header sailed over the crossbar with 24 seconds left in the Lancers’ final attempt.

FMU senior goalkeeper Jacque Sutphin recorded two saves en route to her 13th career shutout. Whitmore made five stops for the Lancers. Francis Marion out shot Longwood 10-8 and held a slight 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Stenard, who ranks among the top 30 scorers in NCAA Division I, leads the Patriots with nine goals, while Sutphin improved her school career record for saves to 262.

Francis Marion plays at Liberty University, Thursday at 7 p.m., while Longwood travels to VMI on Thursday for a 4 p.m. match.