STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern men's soccer swept the final Sun Belt Conference weekly awards of the 2017 season, announced today by conference officials. Javier Carbonell was named the Offensive Player of the Week, while Emil Laursen was named the Defensive Player of the Week.
Both players played a key role in the Eagles' 2-0 road win over Appalachian State on Saturday, which helped Georgia Southern clinch the No. 3 seed in this week's Sun Belt Conference tournament. Carbonell delivered a goal and an assist, converting a penalty kick in the 37th minute, then delivering a corner kick that Laursen headed in with just two seconds left in the first half.
Laursen and the Eagle back line held Appalachian State to no shots in the first half, building the 2-0 lead, and only six shots total as Georgia Southern notched its third shutout win of the season.
This is the second weekly award for Carbonell this season as he was the league's Offensive Player of the Week on September 19th. Laursen earns his first weekly award this season and the fourth of his career.
"It's funny, Emil gets defensive player of the week off the back of scoring a goal, Javi gets attacking player of the week and I actually thought his defending for us - in transition particularly - late in the game was fantastic," Head Coach John Murphy said. "It's obvious what both bring to the table. Emil is our leader and what he does can't be measured in statistics. He is the heart of the team and he's been a fantastic captain for the two years I've been here. It's good to see him get recognition again.
"Javi's really grown during his time here," Murphy said. "He obviously came here as a talented player, but what I've noticed during the last three weeks or so is that he has adapted to the college game. It's different than the level he's used to playing back home. He's adapted to the playing style, various playing surfaces, the temperatures and even the way the games are refereed. You're seeing more well-rounded robust performances."
This is the second time in 2017 that the Eagles swept the weekly awards as Georgia Southern earned both Offensive (Carbonell) and Defensive (Gonzalo Talavera) Players of the Week honors on September 19th.
The Eagles open up action in the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Championships on Thursday, facing sixth-seeded Appalachian State at 4 p.m. in Conway, S.C.
