Florence, S.C. – The King University men's soccer team's season came to a close in the opening round of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Championship, falling 3-0 to Francis Marion on Wednesday night at Hartzler Field in Florence, S.C. The Tornado battled throughout, but playing a man down for nearly 50 minutes proved too much to overcome against the Patriots.
Match recap
Francis Marion struck first in the 17th minute and added a second goal late in the first half. King's challenge grew when starting goalkeeper Daniel Cavanaugh was sent off with a red card in the 41st minute, forcing backup Miles Lett into action. The Patriots added a third goal in the 80th minute, sealing the result.
King managed seven shots and three on goal, with Lett making a save in relief. The Tornado defense did well to weather 14 shots from the Patriots, and the team never stopped fighting despite the numbers disadvantage.
King finishes the 2026 campaign at 2-13-2 overall after reaching the conference tournament.
Season reflection
Though the result was not what the Tornado hoped for, the team showed toughness and unity throughout the year, gaining valuable experience for the future of the program.
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King Tornado Athletics – King University
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