November 22, 1999
FURMAN MEN'S SOCCER TRAVELS TO WAKE FOREST FOR SECOND ROUND
GREENVILLE, SC -- The Furman-Wake Forest NCAA second round men's soccer match has been scheduled for 1 p.m Sunday in Winston-Salem, N.C. The winner will advance to face the winner of Yale at UConn.
The Paladins, 20-1-1, defeated North Carolina 2-1 in double overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Junior forward Carl Junot scored the game-winner off a John Bradford corner kick 3:50 into the second overtime period.
Furman won the Southern Conference championship and defeated Radford 1-0 in a play-in game to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Furman has the nation's best record and is currently riding the nation's longest winning streak as the Paladins have won 13 matches in a row. Furman is the only 20-win team in the country. The Paladins are ranked third in the Soccer America poll and 5th in the NSCAA rankings.
Wake Forest is 13-2-5 on the season and fresh off a 2-1 victory over Virginia Commonwealth in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Wake Forest is the fifth seed in the tournament and is ranked 10th and 12th in the two major soccer polls.
The match will mark the second time that Furman and Wake Forest have squared off in the NCAA Tournament. In Furman's first-ever playoff soccer match, the Paladins defeated Wake Forest 1-0 in 1991. The Paladins and Deacons will square off for the 19th time overall. Wake holds a 8-5-5 overall advantage, though Furman is 5-2-2 against Wake Forest in the 1990s.
"We have earned a spot in the final 16," said Furman head coach Doug Allison. "I am proud of our guys for what they have accomplished thus far. We just need to keep our focus and come ready to play every match. Wake Forest is a quality team that has had an excellent season. I look forward to a battle."
Furman is 2-0 against ACC teams this season as Furman defeated Clemson 3-2 in overtime and North Carolina 2-1 in overtime. Allison's career record against the ACC is 5-4-1. Furman and Wake Forest have played seven common opponents this season. Both teams tied South Carolina, while both defeated College of Charleston, Davidson, UNCG, and Radford. Furman defeated Clemson and North Carolina this season, while Wake tied UNC and lost to Clemson.