Men's Soccer | 11/13/2016 5:52:00 PM

ATLANTA – Following Sunday's championship match of the 2016 Sun Belt Championship, the league office released the all-tournament team featuring Georgia Southern men's soccer defender Emil Laursen.

The 2016 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Laursen played all 90 minutes in the Eagles' season-finale against Georgia State and recorded a spectacular, sliding save in the closing minutes of the first half to preserve a 0-0 tie heading into halftime.

A sophomore from Silkeborg, Denmak, Laursen was twice named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week (Sept. 20, Oct. 25) this season and was also an All-Sun Belt Conference First-Team selection. He started 14 games on the back row for the Eagles, anchoring a young Eagles defense that featured three freshmen along with Laursen. He was a vital part of the defense, rarely leaving the pitch as he has played every minute in 11 games. In those 11 games, the Eagles went 5-3-3. Laursen scored a team-best three game-winning goals throughout the year. His game-winners came against Stetson, the first meeting with Georgia State and Hartwick. Away from the pitch, Laursen is a 4.00 student and was recently named to the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-District 4 First-Team.

Georgia Southern ended the 2016 campaign with an 8-8-3 record. The Eagles went 3-1-1 in Sun Belt play and were co-regular season champions along with 2016 Sun Belt Championship winner Coastal Carolina. The Eagles were the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

2016 Sun Belt Championships All-Tournament Team
Most Outstanding Performer
Jair Espinoza (Coastal Carolina, Sophomore, Midfielder)

All-Tournament Team
Graham Smalley (Appalachian State, Freshman, Midfielder)
Einar Einarsson (Coastal Carolina, Senior, Defender)
Henrik Muller (Coastal Carolina, Junior, Defender)
Frantzdy Pierrot (Coastal Carolina, Junior, Forward)
Emil Laursen (Georgia Southern, Sophomore, Defender)
Kwaku Adu-Boahene (Georgia State, Sophomore, Forward)
Hannes Burmeister (Georgia State, Sophomore, Midfielder)
Liam Fitzsimmons (Georgia State, Redshirt Sophomore, Defender)
Hamish Ritchie (Hartwick, Freshman, Midfielder)
Kenneth Hersey (Howard, Redshirt Senior, Goalkeeper)


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