Last hoorah against Furman for GSU seniors

Trevor McNaboe

After a season filled with highs and lows, the Georgia Southern University men’s soccer team looks to finish off the Southern Conference schedule on top as it faces a tough Furman University team.

The Eagles are reeling after a 2-1 loss to University of North Carolina at Greensboro on the road to drop to 6-9 on the season. Previously, GSU was on a two-game winning streak after beating Appalachian State University and Jacksonville University.

Furman has compiled a 10-2-2 record overall and a 2-0-2 record in the Southern Conference. The Paladins are coming off a 2-0 loss to Georgia State University.

GSU has had trouble with the Paladins in previous years, and last year the Paladins won in Statesboro by a score of 2-1.

Furman finished runner up in the Southern Conference last season and has beaten three nationally-ranked opponents this season.

The Paladins have beaten No. 22 Xavier University and No. 25 Elon University, both at home, by a score of 4-3 and 1-0 respectively. They also have beaten No. 9 Clemson University on the road by a score of 2-1.

The Eagles have had trouble on the road this season coming in with a 2-5 away from Statesboro.

That is a sign of a bad news as Furman is undefeated at home this season going 5-0, and has not allowed a goal at home this season while scoring 12 goals.

GSU will have to continue to try and outhustle the opposition by creating turnovers and making quick strikes in the attacking third to hang in this game.

Furman averages almost two goals a game and that number increases at home to 2.4 goals.

The Paladins are very balanced as they have ten players that have scored a goal this season.

Freshman forward Bobby Edet leads the Paladins in goals and points with seven goals and 15 points. Edet was a highly touted recruit out of Texas.

Senior midfielder Martin Ontiveros leads Furman in assists with four, and he also has tallied three goals on the season.

GSU will look to matchup with these key players with two seniors, midfielder Hunter Norton and forward Witt Carlisle.

Norton leads the team in assists with four and is tied for the team lead with four goals. Norton is a pivotal piece that makes the Eagle offense go.

Carlisle will be vital to the Eagle attack as he has four goals and three assists on the season.

For the GSU senior class this will be a big game for them as it quite possible could be the last SoCon game they play.

Kickoff will start tonight at 7 p.m. in Greenville, S.C.