February 8, 2000

FURMAN MEN'S SOCCER ANNOUNCES SEVEN SIGNEES

GREENVILLE, SC -- Furman men's soccer coach Doug Allison announced the signing of seven high school seniors to national letters-of-intent on Tuesday. Included in the seven new additions to the Paladin roster are six members of the Region III Olympic Development Program (ODP) and one member of the Under-20 National Team.

Jose Burciaga, of Duncanville, Texas, is a member of the U.S. Under-20 National Team. Burciaga becomes the second U-20 National Team recruit for the Paladins in the last three years, joining All-American Matt Goldsmith. Burciaga is also a member of the Region III ODP Team and plays for the Dallas Texans. Burciaga should step in at either midfield or defender for the Paladins.

McNeil Cronin, of Winston-Salem, N.C., is the 1999 North Carolina AAAA Player-of-the-Year. Cronin attended perennial soccer power Parkview High School in Lilburn, Ga., for three years before transferring to Mt. Tabor for his senior season. In one season, Cronin led Mt. Tabor to the AAAA state championship match. Cronin, a defender, is a member of the Region III ODP Team and was in the Under-17 National Team pool for two seasons.

Scott Hoch is a forward/midfielder from Lakeland, Fla. He is a member of the Lakeland Lazers club team and attends George Jenkins High School.

Bruce Holt is a defender from Athens, Ga. A member of the Region III ODP Team, Holt plays for the RYSA club and attends Clarke Central High School.

Kenneth Penn is a defender from Dallas, Texas. He is a member of the same club as Burciaga, the Dallas Texans. Penn is also a member of the Region III ODP Team and attends Lake Highlands High School.

Sergei Raad is a native of St. Petersburg, Russia, though he currently lives in Ovieda, Fla. Raad is a member of the Region III ODP Team and attends Oviedo High School. He will likely play the forward position for Furman.

Patrick Tanner, of Norman, Okla., rounds out the 2000 class. Tanner is the two-time Oklahoma player-of-the-year and a two-time NSCAA High School All American. He is a member of the Region III ODP Team and plays for the Tulsa Pride, the same club team as current Paladins Clint Hill and John Michael Waite. Tanner is a forward who attends Norman North High School.

"I am thrilled to welcome these seven student-athletes to our program," said Furman head coach Doug Allison. " We lost a lot of senior leadership this season and we will count on this freshman class to make an immediate impact and keep this program on the steady climb that it is on."

Furman is coming off its best season in school history as it advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament and finished with a 21-2-1 overall record.

Furman Men's Soccer 2000 Recruiting Class

Jose Burciaga MF/D Fr. 6-1 170 Duncanville, Texas (Duncanville)

McNeil Cronin D Fr. 6-1 170 Winston-Salem, N.C. (Mt. Tabor)

Scott Hoch F/MF Fr. 5-11 165 Lakeland, Fla. (George Jenkins)

Bruce Holt D Fr. 6-0 165 Athens, Ga. (Clarke Central)

Kenneth Penn D Fr. 5-10 165 Dallas, Texas (Lake Highlands)

Sergei Raad F Fr. 5-10 168 Oviedo, Fla. (Ovieda)

Patrick Tanner F Fr. 6-2 165 Norman, Okla. (Norman North)