Rock Hill, S.C. – Senior Alfredo Diaz-Santillan netted three goals in the opening 25 minutes to record Furman's first hat trick since 2018 as the Paladins cruised to a 3-0 shutout of Winthrop on Tuesday evening at Eagle Field in Rock Hill, S.C.
 
Less than two minutes into the match, Dylan Lane stripped the ball from a defender in the corner and served a cross into the box that Diaz-Santillan volleyed past Winthrop goalkeeper Dean DePinto to give the Paladins a 1-0 lead. In the 25^th minute, the Charlotte, N.C., native raced down the left wing before playing a low shot that squirted through the legs of the keeper at the 24:31 mark to double the lead.
 
Diaz-Santillan, just 26 seconds after putting Furman in front by two goals, completed the hat trick with a left-footed strike from the left side of the box to the far corner off an assist from Tommy Redhead. The hat trick marked the first for a Paladin since Cole McLagan found the back of the net three times in an 8-0 victory over VMI on October 13, 2018.
 
Furman, ranked No. 10 in this week's United Soccer Coaches South Region Poll, limited Winthrop to just one shot on target in the second half and the Eagles' Grayson Woodard struck the crossbar in the 86^th minute, but the Paladins maintained their second clean sheet in the last four days and fourth of the season. Ben Roberts stopped three shots to earn the victory and Cameron Maung-Maung came on to close out the shutout.
 
Winthrop managed a 7-6 edge in total shots, however, Furman finished with a 5-3 edge in shots on goal. The game featured seven cautions, including four against the Paladins. All seven yellow cards came in the final hour of play.
 
DePinto was credited with two saves for the Eagles, who fell to 0-7-0 on the season.
 
Furman (5-1-1) returns home to host Coastal Carolina on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff on Seagraves Field at Stone Soccer Stadium is set for 2 p.m. and the match will be streamed live on ESPN+.