Patriots Add Cincy Midfielder

FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University men’s soccer coach Kevin Varnado has announced that midfielder Marcus Hairston of Jackson, Miss., will be joining the Patriot program after playing his first two seasons at the University of Cincinnati.

Hairston, 5-11 and 155 pounds, played the 2007 and 2006 season at Cincinnati, appearing in 28 matches, making three starts, and scoring one goal.

He also attended Holmes Community College in Mississippi.

He is a graduate of Robert M. Callaway High School, where he was a four-year starter. As a junior and senior, he helped lead his squad to district titles in addition to a spot in the 2005 state semifinals.

He was a five-year starter on the Mississippi Olympic Development Program (ODP) state squad and a member of the 2005 Region III ODP pool.

He also led his Central Jackson Soccer Organization club team to three consecutive state championships and one SuperClubs regional title.

“We initially recruited Marcus out of high school prior to his going to Cincinnati, but are very happy to now have a player of his caliber at FMU,” said Varnado. “He is a very dynamic player on the ball, creative, explosive, and he should give our attack another dimension. The addition of his Division I experience to our squad may be his biggest asset.”

FMU earlier announced the signing of freshmen Gentry Johnson of Wilmington, N.C., and Ryan Lucas of Bedford, Texas.

Varnado lost only one senior off last year’s 14-5-3 squad that won both the Peach Belt Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and earned an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, where the Patriots advanced to the second round.