September 21, 2000
GREENVILLE, SC -- The Furman women's soccer team, ranked in the nation's top 25 for the first time in school history this week, faces one of its toughest tests of the season this weekend in the Clemson University Invitational.
The Lady Paladins, ranked 23rd in the nation by Soccer Buzz and 25th by the America Soccer Writers, will battle ACC foes N.C. State and Clemson this weekend. Furman will face N.C. State (4-3-1) on Friday at 4:30 at Clemsonıs Riggs Field and second ranked Clemson (8-0) on Saturday at 7:00.
Furman is off to its best start in school history with a 9-0 record on the season. The Lady Paladins have not trailed at all in the 2000 campaign as they have racked up victories over two teams from the SEC, one from the Big East, and one from Conference USA this season.
"We have obviously had an excellent first month of the season," said Furman head coach Brian Lee. "We have played well and beaten some good teams, but this weekend will be a huge test. N.C. State and Clemson are two excellent teams that compete in the ACC. I am excited to see how we respond."
Furman leads the nation in goals (51) and is second in goals per match (5.67) behind Nebraska. The Lady Paladins' offensive attack has been led by a trio of forwards. Freshman Danielle Petro (12 goals, 4 assists), freshman Emily Turgeon (10 goals, 8 assists), and junior Melissa Turner (10 goals, 6 assists) have provided a huge offensive spark for the Lady Paladins. Petro is only one goal away from the Lady Paladins' single season record. All American Kaye Brownlee has recorded seven assists on the year and four goals. The Furman defense has also been stingy, allowing 0.78 goals per match.
Furman just finished a six match homestand in which the Lady Paladins outscored their opponents 37-3. Furman has currently won 17 straight regular season matches and 20 of its last 21 overall matches.
Clemson will be the highest ranked opponent that Furman has faced in the seven-year history of the program. The Tigers, ranked either second or third in all the national polls, are 8-0 on the season and defeated then-No. 1 North Carolina 2-1 last week at Riggs Field. Clemson is led by Deliah Arrington with five goals on the season. Arrington was named to the Soccer America team-of-the-week this week and was named national player-of-the-week by Soccer Times.
North Carolina State is 4-3-1 on the season and has won two straight matches. The Wolfpack are 1-1-1 against Southern Conference teams this year as they defeated College of Charleston 4-0, tied UNC Greensboro 0-0, and lost to Davidson 1-0.