PORTLAND, OREGON — #16 Furman pulled off a stunning upset, defeating #8 Portland 1-0 Friday night in Portland, Oregon in front of 4,000 plus fan in the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship. Braden Dunham's long distance goal in the 75th minute proved to be the difference in a tightly contested match that saw the Paladins weather relentless pressure from the higher-seeded Pilots.
Dunham's strike came at a critical moment when Portland was beginning to dominate possession in the second half. The Furman midfielder capitalized on a loose ball in the box, firing a long shot to the right that found the back of the net. It was so unexpected that the goalies fell to the rightside of the net trying to save the goal. It was a clinical, it was bold and it silenced the home crowd and gave the visitors a lead they would not relinquish despite Portland's desperate final push.
The first half unfolded as a cagey affair with both teams feeling each other out. Portland created the more dangerous chances early, with Anton Hjalmarsson testing Furman's defense on multiple occasions. Wilfer Bustamante picked up a yellow card for Furman in the 34th minute, while Wylie Trujillo earned one for Portland just minutes earlier after dissent. The Pilots controlled much of the possession but couldn't find a breakthrough before halftime, with neither goalkeeper seriously tested.
After the break, Portland came out with renewed intensity and began applying sustained pressure. The home side generated nine corner kicks throughout the match compared to Furman's four, and their shot attempts (17) far outnumbered the visitors' (11). Yet Furman's defense, anchored by Ivan Horvat and Connor Stout, remained resolute. The Paladins' goalkeeper made nine saves to preserve the clean sheet, while Portland's keeper managed just two stops.
Furman's attacking approach shifted in the second half as well. Luke Hutzell and Gabe Cox created problems down the flanks, and the Paladins' midfield began winning more contested balls. This balance—defensive solidity combined with occasional attacking forays—allowed Furman to stay in the match despite being outshot and out-cornered. When Dunham's opportunity arrived in the 75th minute, the visitors were ready to capitalize.
Portland continued pressing after falling behind, with David Ajagbe and Joe Highfield both forcing saves from Furman's goalkeeper in the closing stages. Diego Rosas and Sebastian Hernandez had chances to equalize, but neither could find the target. The Pilots' frustration mounted as yellow cards accumulated—Sebastian Hernandez joined Trujillo in the book—but they couldn't break through Furman's defensive wall.
The victory showcases Furman's resilience and defensive discipline against a Portland side that entered the tournament as the eighth seed. The Paladins, ranked 16th, improved to 16-1-5 on the season with this win, while Portland fell to 14-2-4. Furman's ability to absorb pressure, stay compact defensively, and strike when opportunities presented themselves proved decisive in a match that easily could have gone either way.
This upset sends Furman into the College Cup semifinals in Cary, North Carolina, where they'll face Washington on Friday, December 12. Dunham's audacious long-range strike and the team's defensive masterclass—nine saves on the road against the eighth-seeded Pilots—demonstrates exactly the kind of giant-killing mentality that defines Cinderella runs. As the lowest remaining seed in the tournament, the Paladins have nothing to lose and everything to prove. Their 16-1-5 record speaks to consistency and resilience, qualities that will be tested against a Washington side fresh off dismantling fourth-ranked Maryland. For a program that's never won a national championship, Furman is now just two victories away from college soccer immortality.