STATESBORO, Ga. – On Tuesday afternoon, Georgia Southern men's soccer coach John Murphy announced the Eagles were adding nine newcomers for the 2021 season. Georgia Southern will kick off the 2021 season at Winthrop on August 14, for the first of two exhibition matches.
 
Jacob Green-Petersen | Aarhus, Denmark | Defender
Jacob Green-Petersen played for Risskov Gymnasium and VSK Aarhus and Academy of AGF. Under head coach Jens Gjesing, Green-Petersen played for multiple years in Denmark and is strongly minded when it comes to defense.
 
QUOTING COACH MURPHY:
"Jacob has a very good pedigree as he is from the same club as former Eagle standout Emil Larsen and Sebastian Gregersen. He is a ball-using central defender who is a natural leader both on and off the field."
 
Samuel Odame | Accra, Ghana | Forward
Samuel Odame scored seven goals and collected four assists during his senior season with Montverde Academy. The forward also played for Sima Academy under head coach Mike Potempa. 
 
QUOTING COACH MURPHY:
"Samuel is an explosive attacking player who can be deployed in multiple positions. His time at Montverde will serve him well in his transition to the college game."
 
Hendrik Strobl | Siegburg, Germany | Forward

QUOTING COACH MURPHY:
"Hendrik comes from one of the top youth academies in Germany and is a natural goal scorer. We believe his presence on the field will open attacking options for himself and his teammates from the start."
 
Mauro Gutierrez-Solis | San Jose, Costa Rica | Forward/Midfielder
Mauro Gutierrez-Solis scored 16 goals and collected 11 assists in the 21 games he appeared in during his senior season. Named Best Player during the ANADEC Tournament. Played for Deportivo Saprissa under head coach Luis Jose Herra. Gutierrez-Solis was named Best Player in the Private Schools Championship.
 
QUOTING COACH MURPHY:
"Mauro has outstanding experience playing for the top club in Costa Rica, as well as expansive youth national team experience. He is an attacking catalyst from central or wide positions."
 
Austin Hardy | Huntersville, N.C. | Defender
Austin Hardy collected three goals and 11 assists during his senior season with Cox Mill High School. The Charlotte, North Carolina native won the 2021 ECNL National Championship with his ECNL club.
 
QUOTING COACH MURPHY:
"Austin has just come back from the 2021 ENCL's as a national champion and I believe that says a lot about him as a person and competitor. He can play as a fullback, or a winger and we believe he will fit into our system right away."
 
Manuel Prieto | Dalton, Ga. | Midfielder
Manuel Prieto joins the Eagles from Dalton High School, where he played under head coach Matt Cheaves. In the shortened season, Prieto scored five goals and collected seven assists in six games. Prieto played for the Chattanooga Red Wolves and coach Danny McBride. During those 16 games he scored 10 goals and had 15 assists.
 
QUOTING COACH MURPHY:
"Manuel is another in-state talent who also has college experience under his belt. He is quite technical and can set up in central or wide areas to possess, combine or penetrate."
 
Jona Kafka | Hamburg, Germany | Midfielder
Jona Kafka joins the Eagles from Hamburg, Germany. The midfielder played for St. Pauli and Eimsbuetteler TV in Germany, while graduating from Kopernikus Gymnasium Bargteheide.
 
QUOTING COACH MURPHY:
"Jona is a well-rounded central midfielder with a very good technical base. He is a two-way player who will add balance to our squad."
 
Trace Blanton | Madison, Ga. | Forward
Trace Blanton graduated from Morgan County High School in Madison, Georgia, where he played four years under head coach Aaron Paul. As a freshman, Blanton was the Region Player of the Year and was a first team recipient all four years of high school. Blanton holds the school record for goals (35) and assists (20).
 
QUOTING COACH MURPHY:
"Trace has an excellent combination of size, technique, and energy. He can play in the wide areas, as well as operate as a 10 and this will help him in his transition to the college game."
 
Luca Ziegler | Oberroth, Germany | Defender
Luca Ziegler graduated from Presbyterian College and was named as the Big South Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Ziegler was a 1^st Team All-Conference and All-Academic Team recipient in 2021. Playing in 69 matches for the Blue Hose, Ziegler was named a team captain for three years.
 
QUOTING COACH MURPHY:
"Luca comes to us after an outstanding career at Presbyterian. He is a left-sided player with an outstanding delivery on set pieces or during the run of play. His maturity and leadership qualities will allow him to make a positive impact immediately."