ANDERSON, S.C. - With the 2015 South Atlantic Conference Championships on the horizon, Anderson University men's soccer closes its nonconference schedule on Wednesday when it celebrates Senior Day by welcoming Peach Belt Conference and in-state rival Francis Marion to the Electric City. Kick-off at Trojan Stadium is set for 4 p.m.
The Trojans
AU looks to get back on the winning track after suffering
back-to-back setbacks to conference opponents Queens and Lincoln
Memorial last week. With the two losses, the Trojans enter the week
with an even 7-7-1 overall record with a 6-4 mark in league play,
as their regular-season finale is set for Saturday at Mars Hill.
Anderson also looks to get back into the win column in its home
schedule, dropping its first home contest on Saturday since Oct.
10, 2014.
Junior forward Lars Kaula provided AU's only goal against LMU on Saturday, as he knocked in his sixth penalty-kick goal on the year, which leads the SAC. For the season, Kaula's six goals slots him seventh in the conference, as he continues to trail teammate Andre Carle with seven goals, which puts him fourth in the SAC. As a team, the Trojans are tied with Queens for third in the league in goals with 28.
For the first time in multiple weeks, redshirt junior goalkeeper Devon Ashy was surpassed for the conference lead in saves by Newberry's Brad Dixon. Ashy comes into the week 63 saves, which ties him for second in the SAC with Brevard's Heath Turner.
The Patriots
Francis Marion comes into Wednesday's contest winning three of its
last four PBC matches, capped off by a 5-1 rout over Georgia
Southwestern on Saturday. Overall, the Patriots are 10-4-1 for the
season with a 5-3 league mark, as they sit in a tie with Lander for
the third position in the Peach Belt standings.
FMU has outscored its opposition this season, 36-18, as sophomore forward Levin Sandmann leads the Patriots and ranks second in the PBC with eight goals on 21 shots on goal for the year. Sandmann knocked in two goals in Francis Marion's 5-1 win over GSW on Saturday, including the eventual game-winner. Earlier this year, Sandmann scored both of the Patriots' goals in a 2-1 key conference victory over UNC Pembroke.
A pair of freshman goalkeepers has seen time between the posts for FMU, as Jonathan Mannes has started in 12 of the team's 14 matches. Minnes is responsible for all six of the team's shutouts for the campaign, as third in the PBC with a 1.06 goals-against average. Classmate Robert Schreiner has two starts under his belt and has grabbed 10 saves.
The Series
Home-field advantage has been essential in the last four meetings
between the teams, as Anderson has won its last two over Francis
Marion when playing at Trojan Stadium (2011 and 2013), but the
Patriots have responded with home victories in 2012 and 2014. Last
season, the Trojans suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 double-overtime
setback in Florence when FMU was ranked within the region.
