Mt. Pleasant, S.C. – UNC Greensboro's Hakan Ilhan volleyed a shot over the head of the Furman keeper in the 81st minute to lift the Spartans to a 1-0 victory over the Paladins in the Southern Conference Men's Soccer Championship Match on Sunday afternoon at Patriots Point Athletics Complex.

With the victory, UNCG captured its fifth SoCon Tournament crown and earned the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.  The Spartans improved to 12-5-4 on the season while Furman finished the 2010 campaign at 10-7-4.

Ilhan received a pass in the box, flicked a pass over an on-rushing defender and looped a volley over the head of Paladin keeper Alec Kann at 80:28.  For Ilhan, it marked his 12th tally of the season as the sophomore netted all four goals for UNCG during its three-match SoCon Tournament run.

The Spartans outshot Furman 11-5 and pressured the Paladin defense with crosses into the box much of the afternoon, but each team managed just two shots on goal.  After a slow start in the first half, a cross into the box by UNCG was headed past Kann in the 58th minute, but the goal was disallowed for a foul. Ilhan came close to giving the Spartans the lead midway through the second period finding space down the right side, but he fired high as Kann closed down the angle.  

Furman threatened to go in front twice late in the match.  In the 76th minute, Eric Cobleigh received a through ball on the left side and slotted a shot past the keeper, but was whistled offside.  Three minutes later, Michael Gandier flicked a pass to the right side off the box after a long ball from the midfield.  Caleb Suri unleashed a low one-timer only to have UNCG keeper Peyton Ford smother the shot at the near post.

Ford recorded two saves to earn the shutout for the Spartans who ran their unbeaten streak to 11 matches.  Kann, who finished with seven shutouts on the season, recorded one save for Furman in a losing effort.

Walker Jernigan, Danny Hojaij and Nicky MacKain earned all-tournament honors for Furman.

UNCG will find out its NCAA Tournament first round destination when the 48-team field is announced on Monday at 4:30 p.m. on ESPNU.