Men's Soccer | 8/15/2016 3:33:00 PM

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STATESBORO – The Georgia Southern men's soccer team hit the ground running last week, opening preseason camp in preparation for the Eagles' third season in the Sun Belt Conference and first under the direction of first-year head coach John Murphy. Murphy arrived on campus last Sunday, and within hours was already in planning mode and eagerly preparing to meet his new team to get them ready for the upcoming season.

"It's been great, it's been a whirlwind," Murphy said. "I drove down from Boston a week ago yesterday. That was a 17 hour drive down to Statesboro. But I already feel like I've been here longer than a week because I've met some great people. I've inherited a great staff and a pretty solid team. So, so far so good.

"I've seen a lot of talent over the years," Murphy continued. "I've been at two ACC schools and I think the talent we have here on campus is comparable to the players I was recruiting and coaching at both of those programs. We have an exciting team and I think at this point we are trying to get everybody on the same page, trying to get some basic tactics and philosophies down. Hopefully that will show on the field against SCAD and that will be the first step."

A 20-year coaching veteran, including 10 years in the professional ranks both in Major League Soccer (MLS) and overseas, Murphy has been through plenty of preseason exercises and is familiar with building rapport with new players.

"I think what you have to do as a coach is have a clear vision of what you want to do," Murphy said. "Hopefully the work that I've done previously lends a little bit of credibility to what I'm saying, but there has to be some trust that is developed over time. These players don't have to believe everything I say, I have to earn their trust, so I think that is important. It's a process and one of my favorite phrases is 'Process over prizes.' We can't get caught up looking at Sun Belt championships and post season opportunities when you're tripping over your feet with things that are right there in front of you. So, we have to focus in mid-August about getting on the same page, preparing for our game tomorrow night, and if we keep our focus on the process then you get the success over time."

Something that has Murphy excited for the upcoming season is knowing that when the Eagles hit the pitch for the first time, it won't be with a bare cupboard. The Eagles return 15 letterwinners from a season ago and Murphy has liked what he has seen from his team, especially the veterans.

"I think we have several guys who have done very well to this point," Murphy said. "Nick Wells has been a very impressive player, an exciting player. He's very similar to Clint Dempsey, who I worked with in MLS. Great frame on him, athletic component and the technique and his soccer intelligence is very good as well. I think Hunter Loyden is another one who is a very impressive player, a very impressive athlete who is committed and a great leader. Those are two guys right there that kind of sum up the type of players we have here at Georgia Southern. We have some very skillful players and then we have some very fit, strong players as well, so it's a good combination."

The Eagles took today, Monday, August 15 off to start classes, but have been full-steam ahead since opening preseason camp last Tuesday with two-a-days, conditioning and plenty of drills as well as a couple inter-squad scrimmages. However, Tuesday night's home exhibition against SCAD will be a good measuring stick to see where the team is as they prepare to open the regular season late next week.

"I feel like at this point we have depth, we have the ability to go probably five or six off of the bench and there will be an opportunity for guys that are beyond that group to show me that we have more depth than that," Murphy said. "So, getting in shape, getting a defensive shape, everything comes from that first group, particularly when you have exciting individual attacking players. Getting everybody on the same page defensively is important and then that's your platform to go and play from."

Another key test will come later this week on Saturday, Aug. 20 when the team hits the road for an overnight road exhibition at UNC Asheville. Having an overnight trip during the preseason will help GS prepare for the grueling 2016 schedule that features four straight road games to open the season as well as tough road games later on at 2015 national finalist and preseason No. 3 Clemson, No. 21 Coastal Carolina and No. 24 South Carolina.

"(The game at UNC Asheville) is great preparation and a great job by assistant coach Geoff del Forn to get an overnight preseason game, which is kind of outside the box thinking," Murphy said. "A lot of people won't waste their resources on that but I think it's a fantastic exercise because you go through the motions of getting the players on the bus, get them up to a hotel, sleep overnight and then obviously have a buildup to what is a 7 p.m. game. There has to be a pattern that takes place and getting the kids used to the routine and the things we do, that in of itself will be a good exercise. So, we have a game at home, a game on the road, and then that will hopefully put us in good standing for the Houston tournament a week from Friday."

The men's soccer team will kick off Tuesday night against SCAD at 7 p.m. at Eagle Field and Erk Park. The game is free and fans are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs to sit just off the pitch behind the goal line. The experience will be new this season and will allow fans an even better opportunity to cheer on the Eagles.

The first regular-season home match will be on Friday, September 9 when GS takes on James Madison.
 
 
 
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