Asheville, N.C. – Sophomores Ryan Wagner and Wilfer Bustamante netted goals less than four minutes apart to lift No. 8 Furman to a 2-1 victory over UNC Asheville in non-conference men's soccer action Tuesday night at Greenwood Field.
 
With its fourth consecutive victory, Furman extended its unbeaten run to seven matches and improved to 10-1-4 on the season. UNC Asheville slipped to 6-5-2.
 
Asheville struck first in the 24^th minute when Louis Beckett found space on the right side of the box and lined a shot into the top shelf at the near post. Furman responded at the 29:41 mark. After the Paladins earned a free kick deep on the right side, Connor Stout played cross to the top of the six-yard box that Wagner headed into the left side of the net for his first goal of the season.
 
Furman took the lead in the 33^rd minute through Bustamante's sixth goal of the year. Diego Hernandez's corner kick was deflected toward the far side of the box and Bustamante redirected the ball inside the right post at 32:55 to give the Paladins a 2-1 lead.
 
Redshirt-freshman Ivan Horvat made three of his four saves in the second half to help Furman maintain its lead and secure the road victory. Lucca Barros recorded three saves for the Bulldogs while the UNCA back line also cleared a shot off the line.
 
The Paladins posted a 15-11 advantage in total shots and held a 6-5 edge in shots on goal en route to the win.
 
Furman returns home to host No. 18 UNC Greensboro in the annual Quinn Game for Down Syndrome Awareness on Saturday, October 25, in Seagraves Field at Stone Soccer Stadium. Admission is free and the match is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+.
 
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