October 20, 1999

FURMAN WOMEN'S SOCCER CLAIMS SOCON TITLE IN 3-0 DEFEAT OF ASU;

SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR WINS, SHUTOUTS

GREENVILLE, SC -- The Furman women's soccer team clinched at least a share of the Southern Conference regular season title and the #1 seed in the Southern Conference tournament with a 3-0 shutout of Appalachian State Wednesday at Eugene Stone Soccer Stadium.

In the process, the Lady Paladins set a school record for wins with 14, set a school record for shutouts with eight, and Melissa Turner set the Furman single season goal mark with her 12th goal of the season. The Southern Conference championship marks the Lady Paladins' second-ever regular season title as they were SoCon champs in 1995. There were only four teams in the conference in 1995, though, while there are ten teams in the league this season.

Furman scored at the 8:54 mark of the first half as Lindsey Facciolo connected off a Melissa Sutton, Sarah Tollick double assist. Furman maintained the pressure in the first half, but was unable to score it's second goal until midway through the second half when Katie Carson connected on her third goal of the season from 20 yards out.

Melissa Turner iced the match and set the single season goal record as she knocked in a loose high ball in the box off a Sarah Tollick corner kick. Furman took 23 corner kicks on the day and outshot Appalachian State 14-8.

"Winning the Southern Conference regular season title was one of our goals for this season," said Furman head coach Brian Lee. "Now we just need to stay focused and win Friday so that we can have the title outright. I thought we played well today, we just need to finish more opportunities."

Furman improves to 14-2 on the season and 8-0 in the Southern Conference. Appalachian State falls to 7-8 overall, 2-6 in the Southern Conference.

The Lady Paladins are ranked 8th in the Southeast Region in the Soccer Buzz poll and ninth in the NSCAA poll. Furman hosts East Tennessee State on Friday in an attempt to finish undefeated in the conference and clinch the outright league title.

Scoring:

FU - Lindsey Facciolo (Melissa Sutton, Sarah Tollick assists) 8:54

FU - Katie Carson (Melissa Sutton, Kaye Brownlee assists) 64:52

FU - Melissa Turner (Sarah Tollick assist) 71:20

Shots: FU - 14, ASU - 8

Corner Kicks: FU - 23, ASU - 2

Saves: FU - 7, ASU - 5

Fouls: FU - 10, ASU - 8