Boiling Springs, N.C. – Furman netted two goals in the opening four minutes of the match as the ninth-ranked Paladins blitzed No.8 Gardner-Webb, 4-1, Friday night at Greene-Harbison Stadium.
 
With the victory, Furman improved to 4-0-3 on the season and remained unbeaten in four matches this season against nationally-ranked opposition. The Runnin' Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the campaign to drop to 5-1-0.
 
The Paladins high pressure set the tone in the opening minutes of the match. Midfielder Diego Hernandez stepped in front of a Gardner-Webb pass near the top of the box and played a give-and-go with Caleb Johnson before sending a cross inside the six-yard box to Ryan Reid for the point-blank finish at the 2:23 mark. Johnson doubled Furman's lead at the 3:30 mark by stripping the ball from the feet of the goalkeeper at inside the six and redirecting it into the empty net for his second score of the season.
 
Gardner-Webb appeared to get back into the match in the 65^th minute when Hernandez was whistled for a foul in the box and Robby Lyons converted his spot kick to trim the margin to 2-1, but sophomore Wilfer Bustamante dashed the Runnin' Bulldogs' hopes less than six minutes later by winning the ball in the midfield and racing down the left channel before depositing his left-footed shot to the far-side netting at 70:19. The goal gave the Paladins a 3-1 lead and marked Bustamante's fourth of the year.
 
Freshman Gianluca Rizzo capped the scoring in the 80^th minute with his second goal of the year on an assist from Grayson Travis for the final 4-1 scoreline.
 
"I'm so proud of the work rate our team showed tonight from the opening minute," said Paladin head coach Doug Allison. "So many different guys have stepped up and contributed for us this week in the shutout at Virginia Tech and tonight against a very dangerous Gardner-Webb team. Our depth and work rate has been key to us getting results against two top 10 teams this week."
 
Ivan Horvat earned the victory in goal after registering six saves on Friday night. Alan Horrocks made three saves in a losing effort for Gardner-Webb.
 
The home side managed a 14-10 edge in total shots with both teams totaling seven shots on goals over the full 90 minutes. A total of 36 fouls were called and a combined seven yellow cards issued in the physical contest.
 
Furman returns home to open a three-match homestand next week with a 6 p.m. kickoff versus College of Charleston on Tuesday, September 16, on Seagraves Field at Stone Soccer Stadium.
 
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