Box Score Game Stats
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman scored a goal with one minute remaining in the second overtime of the first-round tournament matchup to secure the win and advance to the semi-finals. Furman’s Josh Fusan was able to line up a shot with 1:03 left in the overtime period, giving the Paladins a 1-0 win. The loss knocks the Terriers out of the Southern Conference tournament, closing the men’s soccer season. Wofford ends the year with an overall 3-11-3 record.
The Terriers were able to outshoot the Paladins, 15-10, but were unable to capitalize on any of the opportunities. Wofford’s best chance to get on the board in the first half came from an awarded free kick taken by Wilson Hood. Paulo Bonfim touched the ball to Hood, who drilled a low-driven shot toward the net, but it slipped wide left.
Wofford had another threatening opportunity in the second half, when Alex Hutchins fired a shot in the 53rd minute from about 10 yards outside the 18 yard box. Hutchins’s shot forced Furman goalkeeper, Alec Kann, to make a diving save to stretch the ball just outside the goalpost.
The two teams ended the regulation even at 0-0. Wofford was able to take 12 shots compared to Furman’s six in the 90 minute period. The match was sent into a sudden victory overtime period.
Following a scoreless first overtime, the second overtime heated up as players started playing with extra physicality. The two programs exchanged yellow cards in the first 15 seconds of the second overtime, when Wofford’s Taylor Grim and Furman’s Caleb Suri were booked after for exchanging words following a hard tackle. 18 seconds later, Wofford was forced to play with 10 men after Randy McLeod was ejected from the match with a red card after his sliding tackle was deemed to be unnecessarily rough.
Furman capitalized on the one player advantage, scoring with 1:03 left on the clock, ending the match in sudden victory. Furman’s Josh Fusan took control of a ball that was lobbed to him from the Wofford end line. He mistimed a one-timer on his first attempt, but controlled possession of the ball still and pressed forward a shot from just outside the 6 yard box. The shot went into the back of the net, ending the match at 1-0 and advancing Furman to the semi-final round of the tournament.
The Terriers were led in shots by Wilson Hood who attempted six shots throughout the match. Alex Hutchins had four shot attempts with one shot being on target. Wofford’s goalkeeper, Andrew Drennan, had two saves and his counterpart Alec Kann had two saves as well. Kann was awarded the shutout.
No. 2 seed Furman (9-6-4) will travel to Mt. Pleasant, S.C., to face No. 6 seed Davidson in the second of two semifinals on Friday night at the Patriots Point Athletics Complex. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. with the winner to advance into Sunday's championship match against the winner of Friday's Appalachian State versus UNC Greensboro contest.
