STATESBORO - Georgia Southern Head Men's Soccer Coach John Murphy has announced the addition of eight new student-athletes who will play for the Eagles in the upcoming 2018 season.

Joining the GS men's soccer program will be: freshman goalkeeper Jokull Blaengsson (Reykjavik, Iceland / Fjolnir); sophomore defender/midfielder Paul Schulze (Berlin, Germany / Truett-McConnell); freshman midfielder Samuel Mayer (Stuttgart, Germany / VfB Stuttgart); freshman forward Adam Davie (Nottingham, England / Derby County FC); freshman forward Marius Bjertnes (Oslo, Norway / Strømmen IF); freshman midfielder Eirik Høydal (Florø, Norway / Florø); freshman midfielder Ethan Smith (Evans, Ga. / Tormenta FC); and freshman midfielder Joshua Deane (Duluth, Ga. / Georgia United).

Georgia Southern men's soccer finished the 2017 season with a 9-8-1 overall record, the first winning season for the Eagles since 2008. The team also earned a final No. 10 Southeast region ranking from the United Soccer Coaches, marking the Eagles' first regional ranking since 2008.

Below are capsules of all eight additional newcomers who join the five spring signees announced in February - Lee Flowers, Collin Harris, Parker Stokes, Payne Van Tassell and Eric Nunez.
 

Jokull Blaengsson
Goalkeeper
6-3, 187
Reykjavik, Iceland
Fjolnir
Menntaskolinn vid Hamrahild

Blaengsson played club soccer for Fjolnir and Haukar … Was selected to play for the Icelandic U-16, U-17 and U-21 National Teams … Made his debut for the U-21 team on March 25, 2017, vs. the Georgia U21 National Team and has earned a pair of caps for the squad.

"Jokull is a very mature and experienced goalkeeper with a skill set that suits our style of play," Coach Murphy said. "He is very aggressive in 1v1's and his distribution is also a strength. His presence and communication with his back line will add to our team immediately."

Paul Schulze
Defender/Midfielder
6-2, 175
Berlin, Germany
FC Union Berlin
Truett-McConnell College

Schulze transfers to the Eagles from Truett-McConnell College, where he played one season for the Bears in 2017 … Played in 20 matches, starting 19, and notching one assist in 1,760 minutes of action … Played club for FC Union Berlin ... Helped FC Union Berlin to Regionalliga Championships in 2015 and state championships in 2015 & 2016.

"Paul is a versatile player that can be deployed anywhere across the back and in the center of midfield," Coach Murphy said. "He is a good passer of the ball and transitions well when the ball turns over. Most importantly, he is a very aggressive 1v1 defender and possesses a competitive spirit that will translate well at this level."

Samuel Mayer
Midfielder
5-8, 168
Stuttgart, Germany
VfB Stuttgart
Johann-Freiedrich

Attended Johann-Friedrich von Cotta Schule in Stuttgart ... Played club for VfB Stuttgart ... Starter and team captain for three years ... Helped team capture the U17 Bundesliga championship ... Scored three goals and notched one assist in 2017-18.

"Samuel is an accomplished two-way player who will add to our midfield group." Coach Murphy said. "His range of passing is quite good, and he has an appetite for joining in the attack from deeper areas of the pitch. His personality is very strong and possesses a winning attitude on and off the pitch."

Adam Davie
Forward
5-9, 158
Nottingham, England
Derby County FC
Rushcliffe School

Played for Derby County FC ... Scored 63 goals and 28 assists in four years of youth play for the club ... Member of the U15 and U16 teams advanced to the finals of the Premier League International Tournament finals ... Also won the Blade Cup in 2016, defeating Liverpool by a 3-1 score while tallying a goal in the matchup ... Also a member of his club's national champion Futsol squad in the FA Youth Cup ... Attended the Rushcliffe School.

"Adam has just finished at one of the top youth academies in England in Derby County, so his background is quite comprehensive," Coach Murphy said. "He has a knack for scoring goals, but his overall movement and work rate will be quite valuable to us as well. Like all young players, we will give Adam time to adjust to the college game, but we expect him to progress quickly."

Marius Bjertnes
Forward
6-2, 163
Oslo, Norway
Strømmen IF
Bjertnes Videregaaende Skole

Played club for Strommen IF ... Also played for Akershus FK, leading that team in scoring in the Malmo Elite Cup ... Scored 26 goals in 18 matches during the 2017 season … Graduated from Bjertnes Videregaaende Skole.

"Marius is a mature, mobile, well-rounded attacking player that lead the line or drop in between the lines," Coach Murphy said. "He is a very intelligent striker who links well with others. Again, he is another player who enjoys both sides of the game. He will fight for the team and pitch in defensively whenever needed."

Eirik Høydal
Midfielder
5-5, 150
Florø, Norway
Florø
Florø Vidergaandeskole

Played for Florø in the Norwegian first division (OBOS-ligaen) in 2017 and 2018 … Saw action in four matches this Summer for the squad, logging 111 minutes on the pitch.

"Eirik is a high tempo attacker who can be deployed out wide or underneath the strikers," Coach Murphy said. " He has played in a very good level back home, so this experience should bode well for him in Statesboro. We expect him to add balance to our team and create attacking opportunities through his skill set and work rate."

Ethan Smith
Midfielder
6-2, 150
Evans, Ga.
Tormenta FC
Georgia Academy

Graduated from the Georgia Connections Academy ... Played club for Tormenta FC ... Member of the 2017 U-18 Georgia State Champion club squad … Club teammate of fellow Georgia Southern incoming freshman Payne Van Tassell.

"Ethan is a very good two-way midfielder with an excellent range of pass," Coach Murphy said. "I feel he is a classic 'gym rat' who loves to train and play. These are the types of young players I want at Georgia Southern. His energy and determination will help him make the adjustment to college soccer quickly."

Joshua Deane
Midfielder
6-0, 185
Duluth, Ga.
Georgia United
Duluth HS

Played for Duluth HS for two seasons ... Scored six goals and notched 12 assists as a senior for the Wildcats ... Played club for Georgia United … Older brother, Brandon, played soccer at Georgia Gwinnett College.

"Josh is a classic defensive center midfielder; strong, composed and competitive," Coach Murphy said. "His ability to win the ball and connect with teammates is one of his biggest strengths. Has a very good combination of technique and physical qualities." 

The Georgia Southern men's soccer team will take the field on Monday, August 6th, for its annual Blue-White scrimmage and will open the 2018 regular season on Friday, August 24 at VCU in Richmond, Va.