Statesboro, Ga. --- The Georgia Southern men's soccer team (12-3-1, 5-3 SBC) took down South Carolina (7-8-2, 1-5-2 SBC) on Senior Night by a 3-1 margin. However, it would be a hat trick from freshman Emil Seedorff that stole the show. 

Despite the offense, it was a relatively slow start from both squads. The first shot was from the Gamecocks just before the seventh minute, but it was the second shot of the match where Southern took the lead for good. Off an Edan Sears long throw in, the ball would plinko around the box, hitting a South Carolina head and finding the cranium of Seedorff's own. A light touch to the side net would be enough for the Eagles to take the lead and not look back from it. 

The Eagles would have ten shots by the conclusion of the first half, to just four for the Gamecocks. However, three goals would be scored in the final frame. 

Less than ten minutes after play resumed, a counterattack started by Ricky Louis would see him break near the box before dishing it out to a cutting Seedorff. After taking a few dribbles outside, he fired a low shot into the opposite corner to double the lead for the home side. However, the clean sheet would be taken away in 77th minute after a through ball would stun the Eagle defense, causing a goal from the Gamecock's Ethan Ballek.

It's the response, though, that matters most.

Just over 30 seconds after the goal, the Eagles broke away again. Another attack started by Louis found the feet of Ryan Holmes near the corner flag. Looking up, he saw who else but Seedorff with space near the box. Two touches from the freshman would be all he needed to fire a shot that hit the inside right netting for his third goal of the night.

With the performance, Seedorff becomes just the third Eagle since 1999 to go for three in a night. It also is the second straight year that an Eagle has had a hat trick for the first time since the 1998-99 seasons, as Holmes had done it in 2024 against North Florida.

The Eagle defense saw 20 shots from the Gamecocks, while taking 15 of their own. Despite the 14-9 fouls disadvantage from the Eagles, they took two more corner kicks while Nate Martinez made four crucial saves on the night. The victory over the Gamecocks is also the first in program history, breaking a streak of twelve matches with no victories.

With the win, the Eagles have now clinched a top five seed in the Sun Belt Tournament with just one match to go. Georgia Southern closes out the regular season on the road, as the head north to face Georgia State this upcoming Tuesday (November 4th). Kickoff in Atlanta is set for 7 PM.