Sunday, September 9, 2001

FIU fall to No. 5-ranked Furman, 4-1

laying its second consecutive top-20 ranked team, the FIU men's soccer team dropped a 4-1 decision to No. 5-ranked Furman Sunday afternoon at the Umbro/Spinx Invitational in Greensboro, S.C.

The Paladins (3-0) scored early when Sergel Raad beat FIU goalkeeper Franklyn Rubio with a goal just 8:50 into the match. Furman opened the second half with a pair of goals in the first two minutes of the period.

FIU (0-3) closed to within 3-1 at 60:32 when freshman Allen Handy scored his first intercollegiate goal on a shot that was deflected into the net. But Furman added an insurance goal at 66:11 for the final margin of victory.

Handy and fellow Golden Panther freshman Landy Mattison were FIU's lone representatives on the all-tournament team.

It's back on the road next weekend as FIU looks for its first victory of the season at the SMU Classic in Dallas, against No. 14-ranked Stanford on Friday and No. 6 St. Louis, Sunday.