STATESBORO - After a 1-14-1 campaign in 2022, Georgia Southern men's soccer is anxious to return to the pitch and turn the program around, and compete in the revamped Sun Belt Conference.

Lee Squires was hired from Lander University in December of 2022 to steer the ship, and he say's there's nothing but excitement within the program.

"We're excited," he simply says. "It's brand new for a lot of guys, ourselves included. It's such a long process from January 1 to where we are now, but a whole lot of things have changed and progressed behind the scenes. Now we actually have a meaningful game, one that counts for the record, for the first time."

When talking about bringing in new players, not only from domestic states but international countries, he says the focus has been getting everyone together and strengthening the bonds between the guys.

"It's taken the best part of eight or nine months to come around, but we finally have everyone on site and training hard, buillding those relationships. It has been fun and preseason has been tough, but we got through it unbeaten, which is nice. We've got that winnig feeling and we're very excited for ETSU on Thursday."

Speaking on the acclamation period for the freshmen coming into the program, Squires notes that it is tough, especially with the short period of training before they immediately have to focus on being college students.

"I think a lot of high school players can underestimate that jump. If you think about it, in May and June they're high school seniors, then two or three months later, they have to get ready to go up against 22 year old men who are seniors and graduate students. That's a tough adjustment, so physically it's a big adjustment. Mentally, it's also an adjustment, since they only have four or five days of training before they have to go to class. We're not a winter or spring sport where you can adjust, we're straight in. So some of that will play into the selection of who plays and starts the games coming up in the first couple of weeks. We'll probably favor guys who have been ther and done it because it's such a big adjustment."

Another thing the new guys have to get adjusted to is the brutal Statesboro weather, especially guys from European countries. Squires specifically mentioned that, saying "it's not a humid there and they're taking a minute or two to get adjusted."

Though there are some veterans on the team, Squires says that the offensive philosophy could be a week-by-week change, depending on who the Eagles are facing.

"Some games are going to call for different tactics. I think some games, we're going to be on the front foot and aggressive, but there might be times where we are more conservative and come back."

Nothing is for certain, though, as with a new group of players on a new team, new ideas are coming and going to the group all the time.

"This is such a new group, new ideas, new philosophy, it's going to take a minute to really get in stride, but we know we've got the versatility and the personnel to switch it up and bring a surprise. Everyone has access to everyone's games, so there's no secrets, provided that coaches are doing their homework, but if we can spring a surprise either within a game or change within a game, that might help us throw the opposition off balace, at least for the start of the game until they adjust."

When talking about the SBC and the type of team Georgia Southern wants to be known as in the conference, Squires was very upfront with what he wants from this squad.

"It's a try and be the top one, two, three teams in this league, and it might take a little longer in this league than it would in other conferences, and we understand that. We don't know the number of games we are going to win, and that's kind of the unknown with it, but we've told the guys if they trust in the process, well put you in a position to be competitive and have opportunities to win more games."

When getting into specifics for players, Nate Martinez was the first player he spoke of, who looks to be the Eagles starting goalkeeper for the season. Martinez is a sophomore who was with the program last season and saw some time in the goal occasionally, but now he's ready to take the next step and be te every day guy.

"Nate's come ahead leaps and bounds," Squires notes. "He's got a great frame at 6'3, he's actually one of the fittest guys on the team. This summer has really helped with his experience, maturity, communication and leadership, so he's going to be a key player and key leader for us. I think he's going to be one of the best goalkeepers in the conference, which for a guy with three years left, is a big deal.

Two more veterans became the topic of conversation in Mauro Gutierrez-Solis and Manuel Prieto, two guys in their final year with the Eagles. Squires raved about the two, saying "They have this enthusiasm and energy for the game that's infectious, it rubs off on other people. They have similar builds and stature, not the biggest guys, but they have very, very high IQ. They work very hard and they've both bought in to what we're trying to do here. Both are very creative, they can get a goal or an assist, and statistically speaking, we want them both to be up there in those categories, but their willingness to commit on the defensive side of the ball, as attacking players, is going to be really important because that is going to help the new guys as an example."

Squires says he likes to focus more on the collective of the group rather than just individual players, mentioning that the group drives the train instead of just one or two guys. "I think it's difficult to find a star guy at each position. It's more the collective and being able to solve problems."

As a final word, Squires discussed his own adjustment from Division II to Division I soccer, saying it's been a journey for him as well. "Some DI/DII nuances, the Sun Belt Conference, learning and understanding what the level is is going to be an adjustment. But at the end of the day, the game is 11 on 11 and we're excited that our 11 can compete with any 11 that's against us."

Georgia Southern opens its season against East Tennessee State on Thursday, August 24. Action kicks off at 7 PM from Summers-Taylor Stadium.