September 4, 2000

FURMAN MEN'S SOCCER SET TO HOST UNCG; RANKED 5TH IN NATION

GREENVILLE, SC -- The Furman men's soccer team improved to 5th in the latest NCAA Division I media poll and sixth in the Soccer America poll as the Paladins get ready to face conference rival UNC Greensboro on Tuesday night. Furman will host UNCG Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in a key Southern Conference match.

Since UNCG joined the conference in 1997, the winner of this match has gone on to win the Southern Conference regular season title. The two schools have also met in the Southern Conference tournament championship each year. Furman has won two out the three regular season contests and two of three tournament finals in that span. The Paladins have also won three of the last four matches in the rivalry, including both contests last season.

Furman is 3-0 on the season and is a consensus top 20 team as the Paladins are also ranked by Soccer America (5th), the NSCAA (15th in nation, 3rd in region - new ranking), and by Soccer Times (13th - last weekıs ranking). UNCG is 1-2 on the year and lost to No. 7 Wake Forest 2-1 last week.

The match is also a contest between two of the most successful coaches in Division I. Furman head coach Doug Allison currently ranks second in the nation in winning percentage among active coaches with a 81-21-7 record. UNCGıs Michael Parker currently ranks sixth after his clubıs 1-2 start with a 368-117-19 career record.

Ticket prices are $4 for adults, $2 for children, and $1 for youth soccer players in uniform. Tickets are available at the gate.

NCAA Division I Men's Media Rankings:

Soccer America