Eagles Fall in Sun Belt Quarterfinals to End 2024 Campaign

Sunday, November 10

Morgantown, W.V.

3 PM

Georgia Southern University

6-7-4, 2-5-2

West Virginia

11-1-6, 5-0-4

Ga. Southern

West Virginia

11/10/2024 6:12:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Morgantown, W.VA --- The Georgia Southern men's soccer team (6-7-4, 2-6-2) lost 3-2 to #10 West Virginia in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Quarterfinals on Sunday afternoon (November 10th).

Unlike their previous meeting this season, the Eagles' defense held the Mountaineers in check throughout the first half as opposed to the two goals in the opening 10 minutes earlier this year. Midway through the first half, the Eagles had plenty of chances, including Harvey Sarajian shot of the dribble the hit the outside side net. However, Georgia Southern finally broke free in the 35th minute when they attempted their first corner kick. Massimo Caruso sent a low ball that found Zach Martin, who flicked it sharply into the back odf the net for Georgia Southern to take the first lead of the match.

Not even a minute later, Georgia Southern raced after a ball in the box when the Mountaineers goalkeeper fouled an Eagle in the box. Alistair Danjon was the man to take the penalty kick, but it was saved by the Mountaineer keeper. However, Martin was there once again to clean up the shot as his brace put the Eagles 2-0 before the end of the first half. For Martin, he now has four goals on the season with both of them coming in brace, with the other coming in the 5-0 win over Coastal Carolina. At the half, Georgia Southern trailed 5-7 in shots with only one save having to be made in the half by West Virginia.

Out of the break, West Virginia pressured the Georgia Southern defense enough for keeper Nate Martinez to come off his line and ultimately commit a foul, which led to the Mountaineers' first goal coming from the PK spot. West Virginia would go on to score again off the feet of Carlos Hernando in the 61st minute, and then the eventual game-winner off the head of Sun Belt Player of the Year in Sergio Ors Navarro to take the lead and seal the fate of the Eagles.

After the final whistle blew, West Virgnia had a 20-6 shot advantage, but each team had four shots on target. The Mountaineers also had 11 corner kicks to just one for the Eagles, which was the set piece they scored in. Martinez only made one save on the day with West Virginia's keeper making two. With the loss, the Eagles end a historic 2024 campaign in which they reached the postseason for the first time in four years. With this, they also had the best start in program history, highest RPI ranking at #25 in program history, two players in Harvey Sarajian and Ryan Holmes picking up major conference awards, and an offense that had the most goals in a season since 2011.