Francis Marion Athletes Excel in Recent Performances
FLORENCE, S.C. — In the competitive atmosphere of collegiate sports, two athletes from Francis Marion University (FMU) have made headlines this week for their outstanding performances in men’s soccer and women’s volleyball.
Soccer Standout Earns Weekly Honor
Juan Salazar Lopez, a junior forward from Palmira, Colombia, has been named the Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week. This recognition comes after a remarkable performance in two matches where the FMU Patriots secured victories, both ending with a score of 2-1.
Salazar Lopez excelled in the recent matches played during the first days of November. He started both games, contributing to a total of 140 minutes on the field. His ability to find the back of the net was impressive, as he recorded three goals on just six shots. A highlight was his tying goal in a comeback win against Lenoir-Rhyne University on October 30. Furthermore, he scored both goals in a crucial victory at home against the University of Mount Olive. Notably, the first of these goals came just 19 seconds into the match, marking the fastest goal in the program’s history. This performance helped the Patriots clinch the East Division title within the Conference Carolinas.
With seven goals this season, Salazar Lopez is tied for fourth in the conference standings. He also ranks seventh in total shots taken with 32 and shares seventh place for points with 15.
Women’s Volleyball Continues Winning Streak
In women’s volleyball, junior setter Mya Mendoza has received the title of Conference Carolinas Volleyball Specialist of the Week for the second consecutive time. Mendoza, a native of Longwood, Florida, proved to be a key player as she led the Patriots to a series of three wins last week.
Her performance included averaging 11.33 assists and 1.67 digs per set, along with contributing ten service aces. Mendoza’s efforts were pivotal in extending the team’s winning streak to 12 matches, which is the longest since a similar run in 2021. This streak is also noted as the sixth longest in the history of the program.
During the week, Mendoza recorded impressive stats: she achieved 32 assists, three aces, and five digs in a victorious match against local-rival UNC Pembroke on October 30; she followed that performance with 37 assists, five aces, and seven digs in a road victory against King University on November 1. Mendoza rounded off her week with 33 assists, two aces, and three digs in another win against Lees-McRae College on November 2.
Currently, she ranks second in the conference for total assists (843) and assists per set (9.06), as well as for total service aces (49) and service aces per set (0.53).
Upcoming Matches and Expectations
As Francis Marion gears up for the upcoming conference tournament, the men’s soccer team finishes its regular season with a record of 8-5-5. They are seeded third in the tournament and are set to host a quarterfinal match on Sunday, November 10, at 4:30 p.m. The opponents will be determined from the first-round match on Thursday, involving the University of Mount Olive and Emmanuel University (Ga.).
Meanwhile, the women’s volleyball team, with a season record of 14-11 and 12-3 in conference play, is preparing for a tough matchup against the University of Mount Olive on the road. This match is scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m., followed by a game at Chowan University on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Both Salazar Lopez and Mendoza illustrate the commitment and high level of talent at Francis Marion University as their respective teams look forward to an exciting conclusion to the season.
