Furman 2, Appalachian State 0

BOONE, NC - Appalachian State University men’s soccer dropped its final home match of the season, 2-0, to Southern Conference rival Furman Sunday, October 30. The match was also the final home game for the five seniors on this year’s team as they were honored as part of ?Senior Day’ before the match.

Appalachian falls to 7-8-1 overall and 2-4-1 in the SoCon. Furman improves to 7-6-4 overall and 4-3-0 in the league. The win is also the Paladins’ first win against the Apps in the last three meetings between the two.

“The more committed team won today,” said Appalachian head coach Paul Stahlschmidt. “Furman came to play today and did a great job. We didn’t get many breaks today, but also didn’t deserve any either. We’ll regroup and regain our focus next week.”

Furman posted its first goal 16 minutes into the match as Shea Salinas collected the Brian Martin pass in the midfield and dribbled through ASU’s back row for the open shot. Salinas, cutting diagonally at the net, booted the ball into the near corner for his third goal of the season.

The Paladins added the insurance goal just 53 seconds into the second half on a penalty kick from Dominic Cianciarulo. The match was called closely, with 51 fouls whistled on the afternoon.

The Apps’ appeared to cut into Furman’s lead in the second half, before a goal was nullified by an offside call from the nearside linesman. ASU managed to manufacture a handful of other scoring chances, but could not capitalize on its opportunities.

Furman held a slim, 10-7, lead in shots with six of them coming from Salinas and Cianciarulo. Senior George Nagle (Williamsburg, Va./Hampton Road Academy) and Alec Dufty (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) combined for four saves in the loss. On the other end of the field, Bryan Amos stopped four shots as well.