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 Highlights:
King finishes the 2026 campaign at 2-13-2 overall after reaching the conference tournament.
Season Reflection:
Though the result wasn't what the Tornado hoped for, the team showed toughness and unity throughout the year, gaining valuable experience for the future of the program.
