Box Score Box Score (.pdf)
2013 SoCon Men's Soccer Tournament Bracket (.pdf)
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Wofford scored two goals in the first 15 minutes of the match and played great defense for the whole 90 minutes, as the men's soccer team defeated #14 Furman 2-0 to clinch the 2013 Southern Conference Regular Season title Saturday evening at Stone Soccer Stadium on Seagraves Field. This is the first regular season title for Wofford since 2009 when the Terriers won the double of regular season and tournament champions.
The championship gives Wofford the number one seed in the Southern Conference Tournament, earning a bye into the semifinals. The Terriers will play the winner of the first round match-up between Furman University versus Davidson College. If Davidson wins, the semifinals match on November 15 at 5:30 p.m. If Furman is the opponent, the match will be played at 8 p.m.
The Terriers improve to 10-5-1 overall and finishes 5-1-0 in the Southern Conference with the win. With the loss, the Paladins fall to 10-4-2 overall and finish 2-2-2 in Southern Conference play.
Wofford would create the first opportunity of the half in the third minute when sophomore midfielder Connor Davis attempted a header off a long free kick that was saved by Furman goalkeeper Trent Johnson.
One minute later, junior defender Forrest Lasso would find the back of the net on a header off a long throw in from senior defender Billy Padula to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead.
The Terriers continued the pressure in the first ten minutes of the match when junior midfielder Nick Orton would take a shot from 20 yards in the 6th minute that was saved easily by Johnson.
Freshman forward Matthew Aurednik would extend Wofford's lead 2-0 in the 13th minute. After his first shot hit the post, he cleaned up the mess for his fifth goal of the season.
The Paladins would finally create two chances in the 27th minute. Marco Ortiz would take the first shot from 15 yards that was blocked by a Wofford defender. Off the rebound, Martin Otiveros would recived a pass at the top of the 18, place a shot heading for the top right corner of the net, but Wofford freshman goalkeeper Garrett Closs would make a tremendous save to keep the Paladins from scoring.
Wofford did put the ball into the net in the 43rd minute, but it called back by an offside call. The Terriers would go into the half with a 2-0 advantage.
Furman would create the first chance of the second half in the 55th minute when Eli Pinner had a header shot off a cross miss way wide.
Dylan Rowe would create another great opportunity for the Paladins when he dribbled into the box and fired a shot wide left of the goal in the 64th minute.
In the 65th minute, senior forward Chase West would have a great chance to extend Wofford's lead, but his shot missed just over the goal.
Closs would make another huge save for the Terriers in the 67th minute when he saved Rowe's shot from inside 10 yards, and holding on to the save keeping the score at 2-0.
The Paladins continued the pressure drawing a foul in the 77th minute outside the 18 yard box. Otiveros took the free kick, and his attempt hit the crossbar.
Josh Lietch had another chance for Furman in the 78th minute but his header off a cross sailed just high of the goal.
The Terriers would play solid defense for the final moments of the match, and storm the field at the final whistle as they held on to defeat the 14-ranked Paladins, 2-0.
For the match, Furman outshot Wofford 8-7 and also won the corner battle 3-1.
Closs had a huge game in goal for the Terriers earning his seventh win and fourth shutout of the season facing eight Furman shots and making two big saves. Johnson fell to his second loss of the season for the Paladins facing seven Terrier shots and made two saves.
The Terriers are back in action before the SoCon Tournament on Tuesday November 5 when they host non-conference opponent East Tennessee State for Senior Night at Snyder Field. It is the final match of the regular season for the Terriers and will kickoff at 7 p.m.
