February 11, 2002

FURMAN MEN'S SOCCER ANNOUNCES 2002 CLASS;
INCLUDES THREE MEMBERS OF US U-17 NATIONAL TEAM

GREENVILLE, SC -- Furman men's soccer coach Doug Allison announced his freshman class for 2002 on Monday, a class that includes three members of the United States U-17 National team and a member of the Trinidad and Tobago U-20 National team.

Furman's 2002 freshman class, which rates as one of the nation's best, includes Rhett Abraham of Trinidad and Tobago, Jay Bracknell of Greenville, S.C., Richie Craven of St. Simon, Ga., Gray Griffin of Charlotte, N.C., Drew Moor of Dallas, Texas., Sean Murray of Wauwatosa, Wisc., Chefik Simo of Frisco, Texas., and Josh Villalobos of Fayetville, N.C.

"I am excited to welcome these eight student-athletes to our program," said head coach Doug Allison. "I believe this class has the potential to be one of the best-ever at Furman and I am excited to see what they can accomplish in the next four years."

Headlining the 2002 freshman class are members of the United States Under-17 National team. Gray Griffin, Chefik Simo, and Josh Villalobos were each residents at Bradenton, Florida and were members of the Under-17 team that played the Paladins in an exhibition prior to the 2001 season. Griffin and Simo also travelled to Trinidad and Tobago to compete in the U-17 World Cup. Griffin was named team captain and Simo earned an NSCAA Youth All-American citation. Giffin and Villalobos play club soccer together for the Charlotte Soccer Club.

Drew Moor of Dallas, TX. is a member of the 1984 Region III team. Moor plays club soccer for Solar along with Chefik Simo and was also named an NSCAA Youth All-American. Sean Murray of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, is a member of the 1984 Region II team who plays club soccer for FC-Milwaukee.

Jay Bracknell, from nearby Greenville High School in Greenville, SC., plays club soccer for Greenville Futbol Club and is a member of the 1983 Region pool.

Richie Craven, from Glenn Acadamy in St. Simon's, Ga., plays club soccer for Sudden Impact.

Rounding out Furman's freshman class for 2002 is Rhett Abraham from Trinidad and Tobago. Abraham attends St. Mary's College in Trinidad and Tobago and is a member of their Under-20 National Team.

Many of these newcomers will be asked to step in immediately as the Paladins lose their all-time leader in points and goals in All-American John Barry Nusum. Furman also loses a first team academic All-American goalkeeper Scott Blount and three-time All American Matt Goldsmith.

Furman will enter the 2002 season with high hopes as they return Southern Conference Freshman-of-the-Year Clint Dempsey, United States U-20 National team member Ricardo Clark, and two 2000 NSCAA Youth All-American goalkeepers in Alex Maslow and John Hanley. Furman finished the 2001 season with a 17-5 record after claiming its fourth consecutive Southern Conference regular season title, winning its third straight Southern Conference Tournament, and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row.

2002 Freshmen:

Rhett Abraham--Trinidad and Tobago

Jay Bracknell--Greenville, South Carolina

Richie Craven--St. Simon's, Georgia

Gray Griffin--Charlotte, North Carolina

Drew Moor--Dallas, Texas

Sean Murray--Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Chefik Simo--Frisco, Texas

Josh Villalobos--Fayetville, North Carolina