Nov. 15, 2007

Knoxville, Tenn. - The Furman women's soccer team will look to score its first ever NCAA Tournament victory when it faces nationally-ranked Tennessee in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship first round Friday at Regal Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

Furman earned its fifth NCAA Tournament bid in school history by claiming the Southern Conference Tournament title with a 3-1 victory over top-seed UNC Greensboro this past Sunday. Tennessee, 13-4-2 this season, received an at-large bid after falling in the Southeastern Conference quarterfinals.

The Lady Paladins arrived in Knoxville on Thursday and practiced amid snow flurries in preparation for Friday night's showdown.

"Our team is excited to have the chance to continue their season," said head coach Andrew Burr. "I think they realize that this is a special opportunity to play on a big stage against a nationally-ranked opponent."

The matchup with host Tennessee marks Furman's third straight NCAA Tournament in which it has drawn the Lady Vols in the opening round. Tennessee blanked the Lady Paladins 5-0 in 2002 and 2-0 in the opening round of the 2004 tourney. Furman made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999 when it was chosen as a first round host. UCF edged the Lady Paladins at Stone Soccer Stadium 1-0. The following year Furman received an at-large bid, but dropped a 3-1 first round decision at Duke.

Furman, 16-5-1, enters the tournament on a five-match winning streak. Following a scoreless draw at the College of Charleston, the Lady Paladins cruised past The Citadel (7-0) and Chattanooga (8-0) to close out the regular season. Furman dumped Appalachian State 3-1 in the SoCon quarterfinals before avenging a regular season loss by downing Davidson 1-0 in double overtime in the semifinals at Davidson. Rachel Fry, who had sent Furman into the league finals with an overtime header against UNCG in 2005, headed in a loose ball with just 2.6 second remaining in the second extra period to stun the second-seeded Wildcats 1-0.

In the SoCon finals, Emily Krankowski and Katie Tucker scored in the opening six minutes and Graham Marchman added a late header to lift Furman over the Spartans, 3-1. The win snapped UNCG's 25-match Southern Conference winning streak.

The second match of Friday's twinbill in Knoxville pits Atlantic 10 champion Charlotte against Atlantic Coast Conference at-large choice Clemson at 8 p.m.. The 49ers downed Clemson in Charlotte, N.C., at the Carolinas' Cup in September.

The winners of Friday's matches will face off Sunday at 2 p.m. with a trip to the round of 16 on the line.