GREENVILLE, S.C.-The Furman Paladins will open NCAA Tournament play on Thursday, November 15, when they travel to Wilmington, N.C. to face the 21st-ranked UNCW Seahawks. 

The Paladins, who downed UNCG 3-0 in the SoCon Men's Soccer Championship Match on Sunday, learned their first-round destination during the NCAA Men's Soccer Selection Show, which was streamed live on NCAA.com Monday afternoon. The winner of Thursday's first round clash will advance to face No. 10 seed Virginia in the second round on Sunday, November 18, in Charlottesville, Va. 

Furman (13-6-1) will be making its third trip to the NCAA Tournament in the past five seasons and 11th all-time appearance in the tournament. In 2014, the Paladins advanced past UAB in a penalty shootout before being eliminated at Washington on penalty kicks. The following season, Furman earned a 1-1 draw at South Carolina in first round action, but the Gamecocks advanced on penalty kicks. 

The Paladins best NCAA Tournament finish came in 1999 when Allison's Paladins defeated North Carolina and Wake Forest to reach the NCAA's quarterfinal round before falling, 3-2, at UConn. The 2002 Paladins claimed tournament victories over Loyola (Md.) and at VCU to reach the Sweet Sixteen. 

UNCW fell to Hofstra in the semifinal round of the CAA Tournament this past weekend and enter Thursday's game at 12-5-2. 

-Furman-