GREENVILLE, S.C. — Senior player Christian Kraus scored the winning goal as the Furman Paladins defeated the ETSU Buccaneers 2-0 in the Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Championship Final on Sunday at Summers-Taylor Stadium in Johnson City, Tennessee. Sophomore Aaron Salinas, who was named the tournament’s most outstanding player, achieved his fifth shutout of the season in this match.
With this victory, the Paladins, who have a record of 9-3-5, earned an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament. Fans can tune in on Monday at 1 p.m. to learn about Furman’s first-round opponent and where it will take place during the NCAA Selection Show. The tournament’s first round will start on Thursday, November 21, followed by the second round on November 24.
This championship win marks Furman’s 15th title overall and the 10th under head coach Doug Allison. This will also be the Paladins’ 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, their first since a victory against UNCG in the finals back in 2018.
Coach Allison expressed his joy for the players, especially the seniors. “Our captains provided great leadership, and it’s always satisfying to get a shutout. Thank you to all the fans who came from Greenville to support us,” he stated.
Furman quickly took the lead in the match. Just after a few minutes, Lloyd Wamu Snell made a long throw into the box, which led to a scramble. ETSU’s defender tried to clear the ball, but Wilfer Bustamante intercepted it. He took a shot that was redirected into the goal by Kraus, putting Furman ahead at 3:33.
Salinas made a crucial save in the 10th minute, blocking a shot from Gabriel Ramos who found himself alone in the box. Throughout the first half, Bustamante, Wesley Siegel, and Caleb Johnson had their attempts blocked, while Diego Hernandez managed a shot that was saved by ETSU’s goalkeeper, Marc Kouadio.
In the second half, Furman’s defense controlled the game, allowing only four shots from the Buccaneers, with just one on target. In the 70th minute, Caleb Johnson scored another goal to secure the win. Wamu Snell chased a long pass from Kraus, creating a two-on-one chance. He delivered the ball to Johnson, whose shot deflected off a defender and found the corner of the net.
Salinas concluded the game with three saves, matching Kouadio’s three saves for ETSU. The Paladins had a total of 15 shots compared to the Bucs’ nine, and they also led in shots on goal, 5-3. Both teams earned five corner kicks as well.
Joining Salinas in the All-SoCon Tournament Team were teammates Slade Starnes, Kraus, and Wamu Snell.
