GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team (5-2-7, 2-0-2 SoCon) is back home on Tuesday to host the Furman Paladins (6-3-5, 2-1-1 SoCon) after a three-game road trip, the Spartans set to play the final two games of the 2026 regular season at UNCG Soccer Stadium. Kickoff against the Paladins on Tuesday is slated for 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
Following a 1-1 draw with Wofford last time out, the final week of the regular season is a pivotal one for Head Coach Chris Rich and company. Currently undefeated in The Southern Conference (SoCon), UNCG sits third behind Wofford (3-0-2), ETSU (2-0-3) and Furman (2-1-1), and will host the Buccaneers on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. to close out the regular season after the Paladins.
Game information
Game 15: UNC Greensboro (5-2-7, 2-0-2 SoCon) vs. Furman (6-3-5, 2-1-1 SoCon)
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Date & Time: Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: Greensboro, N.C. | UNCG Soccer Stadium
Tickets: Free admission
Coverage: Live Stats | ESPN+
Promotions: Food truck in attendance
Social media: Follow the UNC Greensboro men's soccer team on Instagram (@uncgsoccer), Twitter (@UNCGsoccer), and Facebook (UNCGMensSoccer) to keep track of all the action and updates.
Series history vs. Furman
Tuesday will be the 44th meeting all-time between the Spartans and Paladins, the series currently standing at 19-19-5. Furman picked up both wins in both games last season; first in Greenville, South Carolina, during the regular season and then back at Stone Stadium in the SoCon Championship, the deciding goal in a 1-0 contest coming in double-overtime.
The last four times the pair have met in Greensboro, UNCG sports a 3-0-1 advantage. A goal from alumni Yoshiya Okawa handed the Spartans a 1-0 win in the last home regular season matchup, coming on Oct. 12, 2024.
Scouting the Paladins
The reigning SoCon champions entered the season ranked No. 2 in the nation in the initial United Soccer Coaches' preseason poll, coming off the heels of a 16-win campaign that ended with a loss to eventual NCAA champion Washington in the NCAA College Cup semifinals. While undefeated at home (5-0-2), first-year Head Coach Brandon Tucker's team has run into a challenging road slate (1-3-3).
Elevated into the head role following the retirement of Doug Allison at the end of last season, Tucker is in his ninth overall season with the Paladins and had served as associate head coach since April 2023. He's got an experienced group of players behind him, led by returning First-Team All-SoCon selections Diego Hernandez, Braden Dunham, Ivan Horvat, Wilfer Bustamante, and Luke Hutzell and Second-Teamers Connor Stout, Ryan Reid and Ryan Wagner.
Hernandez (five goals, one assist) and Dunham (3G, 3A) were both named to the 2026 Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List on Oct. 2, the latter anchoring a defense that has held opponents to 9.2 shots per game. At the other end, Bustamante leads the side in points with 23; he's scored eight of his 10 goals this season over Furman's last three games.
Last time out for UNCG
The Spartans drew 1-1 with Wofford in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Trym Linberg netting the lone goal for the Blue & Gold in the 70th minute to counter a penalty kick for the Terriers just before the hour mark. Now 5-2-7 on the season, UNCG returns home after a 1-0-2 stretch away from Greensboro over the past three games against VMI (4-0), High Point (1-1), and the Terriers.
Team leaders for the Spartans
Keaviano Francis (7G, 2A) continues to pace UNCG with 16 points after recording seven of them over the Spartans' three-game road trip, followed by fellow midfielder Caleb Borneo (5G, 2A).
Notching his team-leading fifth assist of the season against Wofford, Lasse Dahl (1G, 5A) joins Filipe Matos (2G, 3A) and Malo Jungling (3G, 1A) with seven points. Linberg's first goal of the year (1G, 4A) moves him alongside Pablo Torre (2G, 2A) with six points for the Blue & Gold.
Linberg's finish on Saturday made him the 11th Spartan in 2026 to find the back of the net.
UNCG firsts on the season
Mason Dancy, Gavin DeHart, Jungling, Mathis Robinand, and Bautista Schmidt have all recorded their first collegiate points this season while donning the Blue & Gold. For the quartet of Dancy, Jungling, Robinand, and Schmidt, it's been through scoring a goal.
Players of the week watch
UNCG has had six players earn recognition as a SoCon Player of the Week, the most of any team in the conference.
Offensive Player of the Week
- Francis (Sept. 1)
- Borneo (Sept. 8)
- Jungling (Sept. 22)
Defensive Player of the Week
- Linberg (Aug. 25)
- Seth Wilson (Sept. 15)
- Robinand (Oct. 13)
The Spartans remain the only team in the conference with more than three honorees and multiple recognitions on both sides of the ball.
Spartans around the conference
UNCG leads the SoCon in goal differential (+10) and team goals against average (1.071), while ranking second in six other categories: points per game (5.21), save percentage (.727), scoring offense (1.79), assists per game (1.64), shutout percentage (.286) and overall record (.607).
At the national level, UNCG stands 45th in shot accuracy (.456), 44th in goal differential and 48th in team goals against average.
In net, Wilson leads the SoCon in goals against average (1.071) and shutouts (four), while Dahl's five assists is a new conference high for the season.
Newcomers continuing to produce
Fifty-two of UNCG's 73 points (71%) this season have come from first-year transfers or freshmen so far.
Limiting attempts
The Blue & Gold held Wofford to just two shots on goal and seven total attempts last time out, continuing several trends for the season. Only three teams have recorded more than five shots on goal (seven) against UNCG this season, while two is the fewest allowed since Liberty and South Florida (one) back on Sept. 15 and 19, respectively. The seven shots allowed to the Terriers was the fewest since Liberty (three).
Playing composed
UNCG ranks tied for third nationally in fewest fouls per game, committing just 7.79 per game. The only sides better have been Missouri State (7.64) and Columbia (7.42).
UNCG vs. opponents – by the numbers
- Goals: 25-15 (1.79 – 1.07 per game)
- Shots: 158-139 (11.3 – 9.9 per game)
- Shots on goal: 72/158 – 54/139 (0.456 – 0.388)
- Assists: 23-7
- Saves: 39-47
- Corners: 59-53
- Cards: 19-29
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Up next
UNCG hosts ETSU on Saturday, battling the Bucs for a potential SoCon regular season title and Senior Night at 6:00 p.m. on Halloween night. Kickoff from UNCG Soccer Stadium will be on ESPN+, with the first 100 students receiving a free glow in the dark shirt, a food truck in attendance, and the Spartans honoring this year's senior class pregame.
