Statesboro, Ga. — Georgia Southern men’s soccer kicked off their preseason with a bang, cruising to a 3-0 victory over the Georgia Southwestern State Hurricanes on Tuesday evening at Tormenta Stadium. The win not only showcased the Eagles’ offensive firepower but also served as sweet revenge after last year’s 2-2 draw with the same opponent.
The Eagles wasted no time heating the pitch, with freshman sensation Ricky Louis lighting the spark early. Just eight minutes in, Louis danced past his defender on the right side of the box and coolly slotted the ball into the far corner to give Georgia Southern the lead. The rookie wasn’t done yet—five minutes later, he turned provider, setting up Kevin Pierre for a mirror-image goal on the left side, doubling the Eagles’ advantage.
Georgia Southern’s attack continued to impress, and in the 36th minute, another freshman made his mark. Ryan Holmes received a well-placed ball from Harvey Sarajian at the edge of the penalty box and delivered a precise strike into the side netting, making it 3-0 and effectively sealing the game before halftime. Both Louis and Holmes celebrated their first collegiate goals, a promising sign for the Eagles’ future.
Despite a more aggressive second half from the Hurricanes, who outshot the Eagles 7-5, the Georgia Southern defense held firm, completing the clean sheet. The Eagles edged the Hurricanes in total shots (13-9) and shots on target (8-3), while Georgia Southwestern led in corner kicks with seven. The match also saw its fair share of physical play, with the Hurricanes racking up 14 fouls and five yellow cards.
Georgia Southern head coach Lee Squires praised his team’s performance, especially the contributions of his young players. “It was great to see our freshmen step up and get on the scoresheet early,” Squires said. “Our attack looked sharp, and it was encouraging to see the team execute our game plan so effectively.” The Eagles now look ahead to their final exhibition match against South Florida in Tampa on August 17 as they gear up for the regular season.
