September 30, 1999

FURMAN SOCCER TO FACE AKRON, #2 SANTA CLARA

GREENVILLE, SC -- The 14th-ranked Furman men's soccer team will face its toughest test of the 1999 season this weekend as the Paladins face 1998 NCAA tournament participant Akron and #2 Santa Clara in the Clemson/Nike Invitational.

Furman faces Akron on Friday at 5 p.m. and Santa Clara Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Clemson's Riggs Field. The Akron Zips, 5-2-1 on the year, had spent the first month of the season ranked in the nation's top 25 before falling from the polls this week.

Furman's match with Santa Clara on Sunday marks the seventh time in Furman history the Paladins have played a team ranked in the nation's top two. Furman is 0-6 in those matches, all against Clemson. A win Sunday by the Paladins would make Santa Clara the highest ranked opponent Furman has ever beaten. Santa Clara, 8-0 on the year, has only allowed one goal all season. The Broncos advanced to the Final Four of the Men's College Cup last season.

The Paladins are 6-0-1 on the season after tying South Carolina 1-1 last weekend in front of 2,345 fans at Eugene Stone Soccer Stadium in Greenville. Furman is ranked 14th in the NSCAA and Soccer Times polls, while it is 16th in theSoccer America poll.