By all commonly accepted logic, Furman, one of the youngest teams in all of college soccer, is not supposed to be the juggernaut it has been this season. When the Paladins played their first game on August 21st, with four sophomores and five freshmen in the starting lineup, many assumed it would be a rebuilding season that offered valuable experience and hope for the future. Yet, fast-forward to December 12th, and the Paladins will play in their first-ever College Cup semi-final.

It is not as if that was just an opening night gimmick, either. The world-class Elite Eight winning goal was scored by Braden Dunham, one of six freshmen to start that match. That has been the approach the coaching staff has embraced all season: “If you are good enough, you are old enough.” And the results have been magnificent, with a Southern Conference double and just one loss, along with the record-setting season. It has, of course, helped that the young roster can lean on the impressive Diego Hernandez when needed, a junior captain who leads the team with 10 goals and nine assists and is a TDS Player of the Year finalist.

Behind that roster, where 27 of 29 players played domestic youth soccer, and the possibility of a fairytale ending for retiring 31-year head coach Doug Allison, the Paladins may be the favorite for the neutral college soccer fan. 

Ten Key Moments:

08/21/2025 - Opens season with 3-0 shutout defeat of UC San Diego.

09/16/2025 - Suffers only loss of season at home to College of Charleston, have not lost any of the 14 matches since.

10/16/2025 - Diego Hernandez comes in at No. 25 in the TDS Midseason Player Rankings. 

10/17/2025 - Led by No. 3 Braden Dunham, three Furman Players (No. 22 Ivan Horvat & No. 79 Connor Stout) make the TDS Freshman Player Rankings.

11/01/2025 - 2-0 victory at Wofford secures 22nd SoCon Regular Season title.

11/06/2025 - The SoCon All-Conference recipients are recognized with Furman sweeping the individual awards. Hernandez is recognized as the Player of the Year, Horvat as the Goalkeeper of the Year, Dunham as the Freshman of the Year, and Doug Allison as the Coach of the Year. Wilfer Bustamante, Luke Hutzell, Ryan Reid, Ryan Wagner, Connor Stout, and Luke Munson all receive honors.

11/16/2025 - 1-0 double overtime victory over UNC Greensboro confirms SoCon double.

11/23/2025 - Begins NCAA tournament with 1-0 victory over Western Michigan.

12/05/2025 - Hernandez is named a TDS Player of the Year finalist.

12/05/2025 - Defeats Portland to reach first College Cup in program history.

Ten Key Statistics:

• Furman is playing in its first College Cup.

• 8th in the country with 2.27 goals per game.

• Hernandez is a TDS Player of the Year finalist.

• Hernandez leads the team in goals (10) and assists (9).

• Freshman Braden Dunham is the highest scoring center back in the country with seven goals.

• 11 Players have started 17 or more games, six freshmen, three sophomores, two juniors, and no seniors.

• All 11 Elite Eight Starters and 17 of 18 to feature played a portion of youth soccer in the United States.

• Undefeated through nine games when on the road.

• Has lost just once this season.

• Head coach Doug Allison is in 31st season.

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