Reed Norton begins his second season as a volunteer assistant coach for the Eagles in 2017. He is instrumental in helping the team with training as well as working with the rest of the staff behind the scenes on scouting, practice plans and travel arrangements.
In his first season back in Statesboro, the Eagles went 8-8-3 overall and 3-1-1 in Sun Belt Conference play, claiming a share of the regular-season league title with newcomer Coastal Carolina and earning a bye into the semifinal round of the Sun Belt Championship. The regular-season title is the first conference title for Georgia Southern in men’s soccer. The Eagles also ended the year 4-1-1 at home and 4-7-2 on the road. The Eagles’ 3-1-1 (.700) conference record was the best since the 2006 season when Georgia Southern went 4-1-2 (.714) in SoCon play. The 4-1-1 (.750) home mark was the best record in Statesboro for the men’s team since the 1997 season. That year, the Eagles went 6-1 at home.
During the season, the Eagles competed well against some of the best competition in the southeast. Georgia Southern defeated both Mercer and rival Georgia State on the road and were victorious over four teams that were ranked in the top-10 of the National Soccer Coaches of America Association (NSCAA) Southeast Region Poll. The victories included: 2-1 on the road over Stetson (7th at the time) on Sept. 2, 2-0 at home over North Florida (5th) on Sept. 24, 3-1 on the road at Georgia State (9th) on Oct. 8 and 2-1 at home against Hartwick (5th) on Oct. 22. The Eagles also took South Carolina to overtime, earned a 0-0, double-overtime draw at Coastal Carolina and took Clemson and Duke down to the wire in close, one-goal decisions. Murphy picked up his first win at the helm of the program on Aug. 26 as Georgia Southern easily defeated Houston Baptist 4-1 on the road. His first home win came against North Florida.
Following the year, four Eagle players were recognized by the conference office for their efforts during the season, including sophomore defender Emil Laursen earning Defensive Player of the Year honors to go along with Sun Belt Championship All-Tournament plaudits. Laursen and junior forward Blake Wilson were both named to the All-Sun Belt Conference First Team while junior Nick Wells and freshman Sander Wang earned second-team honors. Additionally, Laursen and Adam Abdellaoui were named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District 4 First Team for their work in the classroom. During the year, Laursen, Wilson and freshman Justin Little picked up weekly awards from the league office. Laursen was a two-time Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week, Wilson was named Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week twice and Little picked up the first honors of the year with Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week honors in the first week of the season.
Before coming back to Statesboro, Norton was a member of the Seattle Sounders’ United Soccer League (USL) team and also played for the South Georgia Tormenta FC. With the Tormenta, he was one of just two players to see action in all 14 games. He logged the second-most minutes with 964 (68.9 per game) and scored two goals on the year off 24 shots while adding a pair of assists for six points. Both of Norton’s goals came in the Tormenta’s 6-1 victory over the Tri-Cities Otters on Thursday, July 7. He played all 90 minutes of the final two games of the season for the Tormenta.
Norton began his collegiate playing career at Georgia Southern, starting 37 games as a freshman and sophomore before transferring to N.C. State where he played in 33 matches as a junior and senior in 2014 and 2015. In his final two seasons, he accounted for three goals, including one game-winner on October 28, 2014 in the Wolf Pack’s 4-1 win over Liberty.
In 2013 with GS, he earned All-SoCon First Team honors, leading the Eagles to the SoCon Semifinals. He recorded one goal and three assists. 21 of his 42 assists were on frame. In 2012, he was named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team after leading the Eagles in scoring. He accounted for five goals, including a pair of game-winners.
Prior to playing for the Eagles, Norton was a highly-decorated high school player and was a member of the U17 United States National Team Residency Program. He also played for Concorde Fire and was a member of the 2011-12 US Soccer Development Academy South Conference Starting XI.
