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Furman University

Slade Starnes
0
Mercer MU (6-5-7, 1-2-2)
2
Winner Furman FU (8-3-4, 2-1-2)
Mercer MU
(6-5-7, 1-2-2)
0
Final
2
Furman FU
(8-3-4, 2-1-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Mercer MU 0 0 0
Furman FU 2 0 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | By: Jordan Caskey

Furman Blanks Mercer In SoCon First Round, 2-0

Paladins Face No. 1 Seed UNCG In Sunday's Semifinal Round

Greensboro, N.C. – Freshman Wilfer Bustamante and junior Lloyd Wamu Snell netted first half goals to propel No. 4 seed Furman past No. 5 seed Mercer, 2-0, in the opening round of the Southern Conference Men's Soccer Championship on Friday night at UNCG Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.
 
The victory advances the Paladins into the semifinal round. Furman will face No. 1 seed UNC Greensboro at UNCG Stadium on Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN+. The winner of Sunday's match advances to face either Wofford or ETSU in the SoCon finals next weekend at the highest remaining seed.
 
Bustamante, a Greenville, S.C., native and product of J.L. Mann High School, gave the Paladins a 1-0 lead in the 20thminute. Wamu Snell sent a long cross from near the left corner flag to the far side of the box. Christian Kraus headed the cross into the path of Bustamante who headed past Mercer goalkeeper Trevor McMullen from close range.
 
Furman (8-3-4) doubled its lead in the 38th minute as Luke Hutzell played a long, curling cross in front of Wamu Snell racing down the left channel. The forward took a couple of touches before slotting a shot into the right-hand corner for his fifth goal of the season.
 
"I'm really proud of the kids for scoring a couple of early goals and getting the shutout," said Paladin head coach Doug Allison. "I'm happy for Wilfer and Wamu to get those goals because they've been working hard on that all week."
 
Sophomore Aaron Salinas, who was named the SoCon Goalkeeper of the Year yesterday, earned the clean sheet for the Paladins.
 
The victory helped Furman avenge last year's 2-0 defeat to Mercer (6-5-7) in the SoCon finals. Friday's game was a rematch of last weekend's regular season finale at Stone Stadium in which the Paladins and Bears fought to a 1-1 draw.
 
2024 SoCon Men's Soccer Championship
Quarterfinals, Friday, Nov. 8 
Campus sites
Match 1: No. 4 Furman 2, No. 5 Mercer 0 (Greensboro, N.C.)
Match 2: No. 3 Wofford 3, No. 6 VMI 0 (Johnson City, Tenn.)
 
Championship Semifinals, Sunday, Nov. 10
Campus sites (at higher seeds)
Match 3: No. 4 Furman at No. 1 UNCG 2 p.m. (Greensboro, N.C.)
Match 4: No. 3 Wofford at No. 2 ETSU 2 p.m. (Johnson City, Tenn.)
 
Finals, Saturday, Nov. 16 or Sunday, Nov. 17
Campus site (at highest remaining seed)
Match 5: Match 3 winner vs. Match 4 winner
 
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