Box Score

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Anthony Esquivel and Scott Hoch each added a goal  and assist to lead Furman past UNCG, 3-0, in the semifinals of the 2002  Southern Conference Men's Soccer Tournament from Patriots Point. The game was called at 73:49 due to unplayable field conditions.

Cliff Patterson nearly put the Spartans (14-7-0) up just five minutes into the match. Egill Atlason beat a Furman defender on the wing and whipped in a cross the skipped on the rain soaked surface right to Patterson.  The senior's shot beat the Paladins goalkeeper, but the ball stopped  dead in a puddle just inches from the goal line.

Furman (17-2-1) grabbed the lead at 25:32. Esquivel gained possesion of the ball just inside the 18-yard box. The senior forward beat Spartans netminder Jay Benefield, but, similar to Patterson's chance, the ball stopped shy of the goal. Scott Hoch buried the chance for his nith goal of the season. Esquivel registered the assist.

The Spartans were dealt a tough blow in the 36th minute when Doug Prewett was issued his second yellow card. The ejection left UNCG a man down the rest of the match.

Furman added to its lead at the 43:07 mark. Hoch broke free behind the Spartans defense, but James Carlson chased Hoch down, only to have his clearing attempt get logged down in another puddle. Esquivel was in the right place, right time and beat Benefield to near post for his 11th goal of the season. Hoch was credited with the assist.

The Paladins sealed the game at 56:07. Down a man and pushing forward, Esquivel countered and once again found some space behind the Spartans defense. The senior added his second of the match, 12th of the season.

With the win, Paladins advance into the championship match and extends its unbeaten streak to 43 games, a NCAA Division I record. Furman als registered its ninth consecutive shutout, a span of 852 minutes. The NCAA record for consecutive shutouts is 10 matches.

The season ending loss also marked the final game for Cliff Patterson, Chris Goos, Kenndy Bundy, Svafnir Gislason, Jimmy Craven and Charlie DeMello.

Goos, the 2002 SoCon Player of the Year, finishes the season with 20 goals and 20 assists. Goos closes his UNCG career as the fifth all-time leading scorer with 139 points (43 goals and 53 assists).