FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University women’s soccer team ended the 2006 campaign as the fourth most improved team in NCAA Division I according to Somis Sports.

The Patriots, in their second year of transitioning from Division II to Division I, recorded an 11-5-3 mark this past season, in contrast to a 5-9-1 record in 2005.

FMU played a full Division I schedule this past fall and showed a nine-win improvement in victories over Division I opponents. Only Navy (11) and the University of Denver (10) compiled a bigger turn-around.

Somis Sports also rates the programs using its own formula, and Francis Marion placed fourth in terms of improvement during the 2006 season. FMU posted a 2.00 rating improvement and trailed only Denver, Navy, and Texas Tech University.

Head coach Marty Beall loses only three seniors off last season’s squad. Among the players who will return in 2007, several finished among the 2006 Division I national leaders in several statistical categories. Goalkeeper Jacque Sutphin posted the 41st-best save percentage in Division I, and set a school-record for consecutive shutout minutes (484) midway through the year.

Freshman Kirby Stenard was among the Top 20 in both points and goals per game, while junior Ashley Fortune was among the Top 50 in both categories. Stenard’s four-goal performance against South Carolina State University on Oct. 13, was bettered only during the 2006 season by a five-goal outing by Texas Tech’s Chessa Purser.

Freshman Angela Salem was among the Top 5 in assists per game, while Brandi Sutphin was among the Top 25.

As a team, Francis Marion was among the Top 35 programs in both scoring offense and (goalkeeping) save percentage.

FMU, which owns an 82-16-5 all-time home record, opens its 2007 season on Aug. 31 at Winthrop University.