The Sun Belt Conference has recognized Georgia Southern men’s soccer standouts Harvey Sarajian and Ryan Holmes for their stellar 2024 season performances. Sarajian was named the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the First-Team All-Conference, while Holmes took home the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year title along with Second-Team All-Conference honors.
Harvey Sarajian quickly made his mark as a freshman, injecting energy and offense into the Eagles’ lineup. The Naples, Fla. native scored four goals and led the team with six assists, placing him third in assists across the Sun Belt. His 14 points set a new program record for a freshman and ranked ninth in the conference. Known for his clutch performances, Sarajian recorded a goal and an assist against both College of Charleston and nationally-ranked West Virginia, while also contributing against teams like North Florida and UCF. His consistency saw him start in nearly every match and log 976 minutes this season. Sarajian is the first Eagle since 2020 to be named to the First-Team All Sun Belt and the first Freshman of the Year since 2017.
Ryan Holmes, a sophomore transfer from SCAD, made an immediate impact with his powerful offensive presence. Holmes led the team with 10 goals, placing him second in the Sun Belt and tied for 14th nationally. His 22 points are the highest by an Eagle since 2018 and second-highest since 2011. Holmes’s breakthrough came in the form of back-to-back braces and a hat trick against Stetson and North Florida, marking the first hat trick for an Eagle in eight seasons. The Milton Keynes, England native went on to notch three game-winning goals and averaged 3.13 shots per game, both ranking among the Sun Belt leaders. Holmes became the first Eagle to win Newcomer of the Year since 2019.
These accolades come as Georgia Southern heads into the Sun Belt quarterfinals, where they’ll face top-seeded West Virginia on November 10th at 3 PM ET in Morgantown.
