STATESBORO - Georgia Southern head men's soccer coach
John Murphy announced the signing of four players to National Letters of Intent to join the Eagle soccer program. All four of the players will begin their GS careers in the Fall of 2019.
Joining the Eagles are: 5-11 midfield/forward Thomas Jackson (Crewe, England / Sandbach); 6-2 midfielder Corey Irvine (Glasgow, Scotland / Northeast Texas CC); 5-11 midfielder/forward Lawson Dooling (Naples, Fla. / Palmetto Ridge HS) and 6-2 goalkeeper Maverick Boring (Fleming Island, Fla. / Fleming Island HS).
"We are pleased to announce the first group in our incoming 2019 class," Coach Murphy said. "These four individuals are good program fits for us both on and off the field. They understand the standards we have set here, and all have expressed a commitment ot help us take another step forward in the coming years. I have enjoyed getting to know each of them during their college search and am confident they will each leave their mark on our Eagle men's soccer program."
Thomas Jackson
5-11, 147
Midfielder/Forward
Crewe, England
Sandbach Boys School
Played club ball for Nantwich Town and Knutsford FC ... Represented the British Virgin Islands in CONCACAF U17 tournament in Suriname 2016.
Coach Murphy: "Thomas is an attack minded wide player with a very good delivery during the run of play or on set pieces. He is a confident player who wants the ball under pressure and will certainly add to our options in the midfield and up front."
Corey Irvine
6-2, 170
Midfielder
Glasgow, Scotland
Northeast Texas CC
Played in 18 games as a sophomore for Northeast Texas CC in 2018 ... Scored eight goals and notched three assists for 19 points ... Played in1 3Â Â ... Played club for Lenzie Youth Club.
Coach Murphy: "Corey is a mobile, two way player who will add energy and - more importantly - quality to our midfield group. He has had two very good seasons at Eastern Oklahoma and Northeast Texas CC, and helped lead NTCC to the National Tournament in 2018. We expect him to come in and continue this progression with us in Statesboro."Â
Lawson Dooling
5-11, 165
Midfielder/Forward
Naples, Fla.
Palmetto Ridge HS
Scored 26 goals and collected nine assists in 2018 at Palmetto Ridge HS, helping the Bears qualify for regionals for the second time in school history ... Earned first-team All-County and Naples Daily News honors in 2018 ... Also earned Naples Daily News Player of the Week honors three times ... Plays club soccer at GPS West - Fort Myers 2001 ... Father, Drew, played soccer collegiately at Wingate University.
Coach Murphy: "Lawson has an exciting combination of athleticism and technique that will allow him to be deployed in attacking positions, centrally and out wide. He impressed us at our January ID camp and we feel has a bright future with us."
Â
Maverick Boring
6-2, 195
Goalkeeper
Fleming Island, Fla.
Fleming Island HS
Spent two seasons with the Orlando City SC MLS Academy under Director Mike Potempa after playing with the Orlando City ECNL ... Prior to that, he played on the Jacksonville FC Development Academy ... Throughout high school, Maverick has been a member of the Tim Howard School of Goalkeeping and has often trained with Coach Tony DiCicco ... Recorded an 0.75 GAA in the 2018-2019 Development Academy season.
Coach Murphy:Â "Maverick is someone that we have been tracking for quite some time. He is an athletic and intelligent goalkeeper, who covers the goal well. He also uses his feet effectively, which is an important quality to have in today's game and within our style of play."Â
These four players join the 21 returnees who led Georgia Southern to a 7-7-3 overall record in 2018, advancing to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship match.
