Durham, N.C. – Furman men's soccer team rolled to a 3-0 victory over UC San Diego in the regular season opener for both schools Thursday afternoon at Koskinen Stadium on the Duke University campus to hand Paladin head coach
Doug Allison his 350
th career victory.
Now in his 31
st and final season leading the Furman men's soccer program, Allison became just the 11
th active coach to reach 350 wins. Over 31 seasons, Allison has fashioned a 350-173-72 record as the Paladins' head coach and ranks as the winningest coach in Southern Conference history.
"Reaching 350 wins just means I've been around a long time," said Allison. "It's special to think about not only the current players and coaches, but everyone who has been a part of the 350 wins. It's especially nice to get 350 with coaches
Bret Boulware and
Charlie Arndt, who were here for win No. 1. This is for all the players and coaches who have had a part in the last 31 years."
Furman grabbed a 1-0 lead less than 27 minutes into the match after winning a free kick just outside the box.
Diego Hernandez whipped his set piece into the middle of the box and sophomore
Luke Hutzell's header found the upper left-hand corner at 26:07 to put the Paladins on the board.
Sophomore
Wilfer Bustamante scored the first of his two goals on the day less than four minutes later. Hutzell and
Ben Boxall combined to setup the former J.L. Mann High School product who placed his shot in the lower left-hand corner at the 30:59 mark. Bustamante doubled his total at 58:52 by finishing off a pass from Hernandez to provide the final 3-0 scoreline.
"Luke and Wilfer took their goals well and I was really proud of
Ivan Horvat for getting his first shutout," said Allison. "We will focus on rest and recovery as we prepare for a very good San Diego team on Sunday."
Horvat recorded a save on the only shot he faced to notch a shutout in his first career start. Nolan Premack recorded five saves for the Tritons (0-1-0).
The Paladins (1-0-0) dominated the chances in the opening match of the season by compiling a 23-5 advantage in total shots, including an 8-1 edge in shots on target.
Furman is back in action on Sunday at 1 p.m. when its faces No. 9 San Diego at Koskinen Stadium on the Duke campus in Durham. The Paladins' home opener is slated for August 28 versus North Greenville on Seagraves Field at Stone Soccer Stadium. On Sunday, August 31, Furman will retire United Soccer legend Clint Dempsey's jersey when it hosts No. 15 Duke for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
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