September 2, 1999

FURMAN MEN'S SOCCER OPENS SEASON IN BIRMINGHAM

GREENVILLE -- The Furman University men's soccer team will open the 1999 season Friday in Birmingham, Ala., in the UAB Nike Classic against 18th ranked South Florida. The Paladins will play host UAB Sunday afternoon.

Furman, the 1998 Southern Conference regular season champion, was picked to win the Southern Conference in the league's preseason coaches poll. Furman, winners of 13 Southern Conference championships, hope to repeat as SoCon champions and earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 1999.

The Paladins, coming off a 16-4-2 season in which they were ranked in the nation's top 20 for most of the season, return nine starters and six All-Southern Conference picks. Furman's 1999 squad will be led by eight seniors, including three-year starters Daniel Alvarez, Seth Marks, Stephen Rodriguez, and Graham Seagraves. Marks was a first team All-South Region selection last season, while Alvarez has been a second team all-region pick each of the last two seasons. Also returning to the Paladin lineup is sophomore Matt Goldsmith, the 1998 SoCon Freshman-of-the-Year and United States Under-20 National Team participant.. Goldsmith is a 1999 College Soccer Weekly Preseason All-American.

Following this weekend's action, the Paladins return home to face Belmont in their 1999 home opener on September 8 at 7:30 p.m.