Men's Soccer | 9/7/2016 10:22:00 AM

STATESBORO – Georgia Southern men's soccer head coach John Murphy announced Wednesday that he will be taking his team on an international tour for Spring Break in 2017. The Eagles will fly to Frankfurt, Germany on March 10, 2017 and then spend the next eight days touring, training and competing. The trip is being organized in conjunction with the American German Soccer Connection (AGSC).

Aside from training and competing, the Eagles will have the opportunity to take in two professional soccer matches as well as tour professional stadiums and facilities. The professional matches as well as the stadium tours the Eagles will attend are part of the Deutsche Futball Liga (Bundesliga), a professional soccer league in Germany featuring 18 teams and 612 regular-season matches.

Georgia Southern also play four matches against local teams and train over a span of six days while also taking in the sights around Frankfurt. The players and staff will have the opportunity to utilize the University of Heidelberg Sport Institute as well as take in other local draws such as the Heidelberg Castle and the Old Village.

"We are excited to announce this trip and believe it is another step in our program's development," Murphy said. "Our long term goals include progressing regionally and nationally and our time in Germany will help us in this effort. During this journey, our players will be immersed in perhaps the top soccer culture in Europe while getting the chance to grow and develop collectively against top opposition. This will allow the core of our team to prepare for the challenges of the 2017 season six months in advance of our August pre-season.

"Additionally, we are proud to travel to the home of our apparel sponsor, Adidas, and connect with them while we are in the Frankfurt area," Murphy continued. "The Georgia Southern brand is very strong in this part of the United States, and we look forward to expanding the colors, the logo and overall positive message of the University while overseas on behalf of the Eagle Nation."

The men's soccer team returns home to Eagle Field at Erk Russell Park on Friday, September 9. The Eagles will host James Madison in a 4 p.m. match which will be the first part of a men's and women's doubleheader. The Eagle women play Kennesaw State at 7 p.m.

Following the men's game, head coach John Murphy and the Eagles will offer a free youth boys clinic at Paulson stadium. All boys between the ages 7-14 are invited to receive instruction from the players and coaches as well as participate in an autograph session and meet-and-greet with the Eagles. The clinic will run 6:30 – 8 p.m.


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