The 2002 Greensboro College men’s soccer team finished 16-5 and made its ninth straight NCAA appearance. 

“We break up the year in three parts and we were champions of two of them,” said Pride Head Coach Rusty Scarborough.  “Our first goal was to win the Dixie Conference regular season and we were co-champs there. We won the conference tournament, and then came up short in the NCAAs.”

The Pride reached the Sweet 16 the NCAA Division III playoffs. Greensboro had an emotional win over host Roanoke in the second round of the tournament. The Pride and Maroons played 90 minutes and then two overtime periods before the match went to penalty kicks. Freshman Tony Falvino tallied the decisive PK for The Pride. Tucker Tharpe had GC’s goal in regulation.

The following day, GC played Messiah College for the South Region championship. On a muddy pitch the Falcons prevailed, 2-1, in overtime. Messiah went on to win the NCAA championship. 

“I would’ve liked to have played them on a better field, but we have no regrets,” said Scarborough. “I’m proud of our team: We battled through adversity and had key leadership at the end of the season when it counted. Reggie Koranteng and Buddy Forward played great in the back for us all year, and led the club on and off the field.”

The Pride began the season in impressive fashion by winning the prestigious Roanoke Tournament. GC beat defending NCAA champion Richard Stockton, 2-1, in OT and bested SUNY Brockport, 1-0. Sophomore Ben Maxwell was named the tournament MVP.

Greensboro College went 6-1 in DIAC regular season play. Its lone loss was in double overtime at Christopher Newport. The Pride then hosted the conference tournament at Macpherson Stadium at Bryan Park. GC beat Shenandoah, 2-0, in the semifinals. 

For the second straight season, Greensboro then faced CNU with a playoff berth on the line. The green and white fell behind 1-0 and had to play two-men short due to ejections. Not to be denied, senior Jason Papaj and Maxwell scored goals to lift GC to the title. 

Duncan Edwards led GC in scoring for the fourth consecutive year. He finished with 162 points (66 goals and 30 assists) in his Pride career. Fellow New Zealand native Falvino was named DIAC rookie-of-the-year. Scarborough was tabbed the conference’s top coach and GC placed eight players on the All-DIAC team. 

The Pride bids farewell to seniors Davis Boyle,  Edwards, Forward, Scott Hemming, Koranteng, Papaj, and Tharpe. They won four Dixie Conference championships, qualified for four NCAA Tournaments, and went 65-16-4 (.788) in their four seasons playing for Greensboro College.

Despite the losses to graduation, Scarborough is bullish on The Pride’s future, “I like our group coming back,” he said. “A lot of these guys got some great experience this year and will be ready to take it up a notch next season.”
 
 

2002 GC Men’s Soccer Honors Charlie Blackwell, Dixie second team; Duncan Edwards, All-South 1st Team, Dixie first team; Buddy Forward, Dixie first team; Tony Falvino, DIAC rookie of year, Dixie second team, DIAC tournament team; Aaron Holcomb, DIAC tournament team; Reggie Koranteng, 2nd Team All-American, All-South 1st Team, Dixie first team; Ben Maxwell, All-South third team, Dixie first team, DIAC tournament MVP,  DIAC tournament team, Roanoke tournament MVP; Jason Papaj, Dixie first team, Dixie MS Player-of-week; Rusty Scarborough, DIAC coach-of-year; Michael “Kiwi” Smith, All-South 2nd Team,Dixie first team, DIAC tournament team.

Reggie Koranteng:  2nd Team All-American