Greenville, S.C. – The third-ranked Furman men's soccer team kicks off the 2026 season with an exhibition tilt versus No. 16 High Point on Saturday, August 8, at Eugene Stone III Soccer Stadium.
 
Saturday's preseason clash is set to begin at 10:00 a.m. and admission is free.
 
The Paladins, who posted a 16-2-5 record a year ago en route to claiming the Southern Conference regular season and tournament titles, the school's first appearance in the NCAA College Cup, and a final No. 3 national ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, return all 11 starters. First-year head coach Brandon Tucker's team welcomes back first team United Soccer Coaches All-American and SoCon Player of the Year Diego Hernandez, SoCon Freshman of the Year and Top Drawer Soccer's No. 2 rated freshman from 2025 Braden Dunham, and 2025 SoCon Goalkeeper of the Year Ivan Horvat. Hernandez was recently named as a team captain for 2026, along with defender Connor Dunnigan and 2024 SoCon Goalkeeper of the Year Aaron Salinas.
 
Tucker was named head coach of the Paladin program this past winter after helping lead Furman to the national semifinals in 2025 as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator on former head coach Doug Allison's staff. Allison announced his retirement after guiding the Paladins to a 365-175-77 record in 31 years at the helm of the program.
 
Following Saturday's preseason opener against the Panthers, Furman travels to Wake Forest for an exhibition contest on August 15 before opening regular season play at Clemson on August 20. The Paladins' home opener is set for 6 p.m. on Monday, August 24, versus UNC Asheville. Furman's College Cup Banner will be unveiled prior to kick off against the Bulldogs. 
 
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