Men's Soccer picked third in preseason poll
8/22/2013 11:51:00 PM | Men's Soccer
STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern Men's Soccer was picked third in the annual preseason coaches' poll as announced on Thursday by the league office. The Eagles also got two student-athletes on the All-SoCon Preseason Team as Hunter Norton and Reed Norton were named to the list.
The Eagles reached the semifinals of the 2012 SoCon Tournament after hosting a first round game for the second-straight season. Georgia Southern finished the campaign at 6-12-1 overall and 3-3-1 in league play for the team's second-straight top-4 regular season finish. A double-overtime 2-1 win over UNCG in the SoCon Tournament vaulted the Eagles to the tournament semifinals for the first time since 2008.
Senior Hunter Norton started all 19 games last season and poured in three goals including a pair against UNCG on October 16th. He is entering his third season as captain of the Eagles and earned All-SoCon honors last season. The eldest of the Norton brothers, Hunter has nine career goals and 25 points to his name, now entering his fourth season.
The top scorer for Georgia Southern in 2012, Reed Norton picked up a spot on the 2013 All-SoCon Preseason team with five goals in 2012. The sophomore sensation also posted three assists en route to SoCon All-Freshman Team honors in 2012. Norton's 85th minute penalty kick goal against UNCG in the SoCon Tournament First Round leveled the score at 1-1, giving the hosts an opportunity to win the match in extra time.
Furman was picked first in the preseason poll, followed by Elon and the Eagles. UNCG took fourth, followed by Appalachian State, Wofford and Davidson.
The Eagles are back on the road this weekend for the final tune-up match of the preseason with a trip to UCF to face the Knights. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. start at the UCF Soccer & Track Complex.
Georgia Southern Men's Soccer's 2013 campaign starts on August 30th by hosting the 2013 SoCon/Big South Challenge at Eagle Field. The Eagles play against Winthrop starting at 7:30 p.m.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics, and the "Eagles GATA" mobile app for Android and iOS.
