DURHAM, N.C. — The 2025 men's soccer season opened on Thursday with Furman defeating UC San Diego 3-0. The neutral-site match was played in Durham, North Carolina at Duke's Koskinen Stadium.
 
The Paladins scored two goals in the first half and added another in the second half. The Tritons managed one shot on goal out of five total attempts. UC San Diego goalkeeper Nolan Premack made five saves.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Furman established control early in the first half, earning several corner kicks and taking multiple shots. The Paladins scored the opening goal in the 26th minute off a free kick before extending their lead shortly afterward with a high press that forced a Triton turnover. The 31st minute goal gave Furman a 2-0 halftime lead.
 
The second half commenced with the Paladins maintaining their lead and applying pressure early on, resulting in the only goal of the half in the 58th minute. The Tritons registered four shots and a pair of corner kicks after the break but were unable to find the back of the net.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Thursday's match was the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
• The Tritons opened the season on the road for the first time since 2022.
• Gavin Allegaert, Tyler Cash, Masa Fujita, Ian Mai, Nate Morgan, Liam Murdin and Sean Ueda all made their collegiate debuts.

QUOTABLE
"Full credit to Furman, who are a very good team and deserved the win. We are disappointed with our performance," head coach Jon Pascale said. "I am confident we are a better team than what we showed today. I know we have a resilient group, and I am looking forward to seeing how we regroup, adjust and move forward."
 
UP NEXT
The Tritons stay in North Carolina for a match with No. 15 Duke on Sunday, August 24. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra/ESPN+. Live stats will be available on UCSDtritons.com.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.