GREENSBORO, N.C. – Despite doubling their shots, the Furman Paladins defeated the Wofford College men's soccer team in the first semifinal game of the Southern Conference championship, 1-0.
The Paladins struck the lone goal of the match, taking the lead in the 13th minute. The All-SoCon Second Team selection Kevin Pahl played the ball in from the left side of the box, finding teammate Marco Ortiz in the center. Ortiz spun and kicked, finding the right side of the goal for the 1-0 lead.
Wofford outshot Furman, 13-6, with three shots on frame to Furman's one. The two sides were physical as usual, combining for 39 fouls and 10 cards.
The Terriers attacked early, earning their first opportunity in the fourth minute. A Furman foul led to a free kick. Nestor Jaramillo faked the take, allowing Carlos Dominguez-Gonzalez to sail the ball in, but a Paladin defender thwarted the attempt.
Less than a minute later the Terriers had two attempts from the right corner. Dominguez-Gonzalez placed both balls well, but the Paladin defense played smartly, deflecting the first ball in before clearing the second attempt. Both sides would tussle back and forth for the next 10 minutes, but neither would break away.
The Terriers had a scare in the17th minute, seeing Dominguez-Gonzalez go down hard on a foul from Furman's Lewis Hawke. Hawke earned a yellow in the affair.
A foul outside the box nearly led to the first Terrier score in the next minute. Jaramillo took a free kick from the edge of the 18-yard box, curling the ball towards goal past the wall. Furman's Sven Lissek was forced to extend to stop the Terriers' shot.
The Terriers were shook up again at the 21:58 mark, as Connor Davis took head-to-head contact from Furman's Kyle McLagan. The junior was down for a minute before subbing out momentarily. McLagan received a yellow card, and Jaramillo attempted another close free kick, but was far less threatening his second time around.
A Wofford score looked eminent in the 25th minute. Jaramillo streaked up the right side, forcing a one-on-one scenario with Lissek. At the last second, Jaramillo passed to Dominguez-Gonzalez on the side, who flicked the ball with the back of his foot. The ball rolled toward the open goal until Furman's Eric Steber sprinted into to clear the ball on the goal line.
Wofford's closest opportunity of the first half came in the dying minutes. At the 37:19 mark, senior midfielder Pierce Verchick played in a perfectly placed corner kick, finding classmate Forrest Lasso on the left side of the box. Lasso flicked the ball to fellow defender Charlie Keeley, who booted the ball into the right side of the goal. It seemed as if the two sides would enter halftime level, but the referee blew an offensive foul on Keeley, negating the goal. Furman held the 1-0 edge into the break.
Five minutes into the second, the Terriers nearly pulled even again. A hip check from Marco Ortiz drew a long free kick for Wofford. Dominguez-Gonzalez played the ball into the far post, where Connor Davis headed the ball to the opposite side. The ball ricocheted off the far post into Lissek's hand, keeping the Terriers at bay.
Ortiz fouled the Terriers again with 36 remaining in the second half and was punished for his third quick foul. The junior was awarded a yellow after throwing Verchick to the ground. The free kick led to a long ball in, but didn't amount to anything in the end. Senior defender Charlie Keeley went down with an injury at the end of the run, sending sophomore Josh Schooler into the game at center back.
The Terriers continued to push for the next 15 minutes, making multiple runs on goal, but unable to level the match.
Wofford nearly equalized again in the 71st minute. A foul and card were given to Furman's Kevin Edelmen, lining up a long free kick. Jaramillo shot the ball low past the wall, but a trailing defender blocked the junior's shot.
The Terriers kept seeing good opportunities not pan out with 13:30 on the clock. Dominguez-Gonzalez played a dangerous ball into the box to Davis. Davis lobbed the ball with a header to Matthew Aurednik, who then headed the ball goalward. Furman again benefitted from a team save, with Tony Santibanez diving in front of the shot.
With five minutes remaining, the Terriers grew slimmer, with Connor Davis being awarded his second yellow of the match after an offensive foul on Lissek. Davis' early exit forced Wofford to play down a man for the remaining time. Ortiz's goal lasted, securing the Paladin victory.
The Terriers end their season at 11-6-1.
