Furman 2, Georgia Southern 1
GREENVILLE, SC - Sophomores Dominic Cianciarulo and Chris Davis scored goals for Furman as the Paladins defeated Georgia Southern 2-1 on a rain-soaked Friday evening. Furman has now won four of its last five matches, allowing just four goals over the stretch.
The Paladins outshot the Eagles 18-5 and held an 11-4 advantage in corner kicks.
Furman's first scoring chance came in the 28th minute as Kevin Norman looked for Brian Martin in the penalty area. Martin first-timed the ball, but Georgia Southern goalkeeper Adam Webb made a sprawling save.
On the ensuing corner kick, Mark Futrell won the ball at the penalty spot. His shot to goal looked to beat the keeper, but again Webb was able to get a foot on the ball sending it wide of the goal.
Furman scored its first goal a minute later as Dominic Cianciarulo netted his third goal of the season at the 28:51 mark. Eliot Paschalis brought the ball into the penalty area and fired a cross toward the back post. Webb tried to collect the pass at his chest, but the slick ball slipped through his fingers and Cianciarulo's header found the back of the net.
Georgia Southern threatened in the 37th minute as Ben Reine took a shot from 30 yards out. The ball short-hopped Furman `keeper Bryan Amos, but the netminder was able to deflect the ball and prevent the goal.
Furman held the one-goal advantage through the remaining minutes of the soggy first half.
The Paladins had two early shots from distance in the second half, as Lewis Chaloner and Shea Salinas both had strikes that were just wide of the goal.
Furman nearly got an insurance goal in the 58th minute as Salinas played a give-and-go with Paschalis and was in alone with the goalkeeper. Salinas' shot was deflected just wide of the near post, earning the Furman corner kick.
Georgia Southern had a scoring opportunity in the 62nd minute as Tyler Mullen hit a low shot from 20 yards that forced Amos into a save.
Furman got its second goal at the 68:56 mark on Chris Davis' first goal of the season. Webb misplayed a Furman cross into the box with the ball deflecting off his chest and out of the penalty area. Josh Villalobos tracked down the ball and sent a cross back toward the mouth of the goal. The cross found Davis at the far post, and the sophomore forward headed the ball just past Webb's outstretched arms.
Georgia Southern got on the board at the 78:29 mark on a Patrick O'Brien goal. O'Brien collected a poor clear from the Furman defense. The forward`s shot ricocheted off a Furman defender and was just out of the reach of Amos.
With the win, Furman improves to 4-4-4 overall, 2-1-0 in the Southern Conference. Georgia Southern falls to 6-4-1 on the season, 1-2-0 in conference action.