Men's Soccer | 9/8/2016 11:32:00 AM

STATESBORO – The Georgia Southern men's soccer team will finally get to open the home portion of the 2016 schedule on Friday, September 9 when the Eagles host the Dukes of James Madison at Eagle Field. The two programs will tangle on the pitch beginning at 4 p.m. as part of a men's and women's soccer doubleheader, and the Eagle men will then host a free youth boys soccer clinic following their game at approximately 6:30 p.m. The clinic will be held at Paulson Stadium.

FRIDAY'S MATCH SNAPSHOT 
GS vs. James Madison
Friday, Sept. 9   |  4 p.m. EDT   |   Eagle Field at Erk Russell Athletic Park (Statesboro)
Live Stats   |   Video

SCOUTING THE DUKES OF JAMES MADISON
The Dukes enter the weekend 0-4 on the season, but the record is not indicative of the team that will face off against the Eagles on Friday afternoon. Only one of James Madison's losses has been by more than one goal, and that was a 3-1 setback at home to No. 12 Virginia this past Monday, Sept. 5. JMU opened the season with a 1-0 loss to Leigh at home on Friday, August 26. They then hosted N.C. State on Sunday, Aug. 28, falling 3-2 before going on the road for the first time in 2016 to Penn State where the Dukes fell 1-0.

Connor Coward, Drew Mahoney and Toby Appleton all have one goal on the year, but Aaron Ward-Baptiste leads the Dukes with nine shots, but only three on frame. Coward has had five of his seven shots on goal and has a team-high three points as he also boasts one assist on the young season. Second-year head coach Tom Foley has started eight players in all four games including Coward, Appleton, Ward-Baptiste, Billy Metzler, Kyle Morton, Tim Estermann, Niclas Mohr and Callum Hill.

The Eagles and Dukes have met just twice before Friday's match with each team claiming one of the games. JMU won the very first meeting 2-0 on Sept. 5, 2003 at the Comfort Inn Classic held in Fairfax, Virginia and hosted by George Mason. The Eagles won the last meeting 2-1 on November 3, 2013 on JMU's home field in Harrisonburg, Va.

2016 Quick Facts
2016 JMU Roster
2016 JMU Schedule
2016 JMU Statistics

FANS INVITED TO BRING LAWN CHAIRS AND SIT BEHIND THE GOALS
Georgia Southern invites fans to bring their own lawn chairs to all home soccer games and sit in the grassy areas to the sides of the goals just off of the playing surface. Tents are not allowed and pets must be kept off the track and field.

MEN'S SOCCER SET TO HOST FREE YOUTH BOYS SOCCER CLINIC FRIDAY EVENING
Georgia Southern men's soccer head coach John Murphy announced last Thursday that the Eagles will host a free youth boys soccer clinic in conjunction with the 2016 home opener against James Madison University on Friday, Sept. 9. The clinic will follow the 4 p.m. game and will be at Paulson Stadium from 6:30 – 8 p.m. The Eagle men invite any boy, ages 7-14, to come to the game at Eagle Field at Erk Russell Park at 4 p.m. and then stick around for the clinic and fun afterwards at Paulson. Admission to the game is free. Included in the clinic will be a meet-and-greet with the team where posters will be available as well as an autograph session. The coaches and players will also work with those in attendance on basic skills and a raffle for adidas items will be held. Those wishing to attend are asked to bring a pumped up soccer ball, a full water container and to come dressed and ready to play.

MEN'S SOCCER ANNOUNCES SPRING BREAK TRIP TO GERMANY
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. 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.

LAST WEEKEND RECAP
The Eagles closed out the season-opening stretch of four road games with a 2-2 record. GS went 1-1 in the state of Florida over the Labor Day Weekend, including doing something only three other GS men's soccer teams have done before, winning 2-1 over the home Hatters of Stetson. The Eagles earned a hard-fought victory with a collective effort over a traditionally good Stetson team that entered the weekend ranked seventh in the Southeast region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). A few days later, Kai Bennett scored twice in the first half to lead the Dolphins of Jacksonville to a 3-0 lead over Georgia Southern at Southern Oak Stadium Monday night. The Eagles were able to make adjustments at the intermission and out-shot the Dolphins 20-16 over the 90 minute span of the game, but several of the shots just missed the target and ricocheted off the crossbar and post.

NEXT UP
The Eagle men will once again hit the road following Friday's match. The next road trek will feature three games in three different states, including South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina. GS will start the swing in Columbia, S.C. at South Carolina on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The Eagles and Gamecocks will tangle at 7 p.m. Following the tilt with the Gamecocks, GS will return to the Peach State for a Saturday, Sept. 17 game at Mercer and will close out the span of three road games with a game at Duke on Tuesday, Sept. 20.


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