Here’s what you missed over the weekend in Georgia Southern Athletics…

Men’s soccer

GS men’s soccer lost 3-0 at Howard Saturday, as Howard earned its first Sun Belt conference shutout since 2016. The 5-8-1 (2-1) Bison scored its first goal 14 minutes in, and when GS looked as though they had matched the score 13 minutes later officials called it back because of an offsides. Coach John Murphy pushed part of the loss into the Eagles style of play, as their attempt to find tying goals earned them a 14-8 shot advantage, but their overeagerness exposed them in the second half. With this loss, GS drops to 6-7-2 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

What’s Next?

Men’s soccer will host rival App State on Saturday, Nov 2 at 7 pm. 

Women’s Soccer

Women’s soccer lost 3-0 to Texas State in its final regular season game Sunday. Goalkeeper Lauren Karinshak finished with five saves, but all five of the Eagle’s shots failed to find the back of the Bobcat net. The team holds a 6-10-1 overall record and 3-6-1 record in the Sun Belt.

What’s Next?

Field conditions delayed the Little Rock-Arkansas State match until Tuesday. The Sun Belt conference championship bracket will be released at the game’s conclusion. 

Volleyball

GS lost 3-0 to eastern division-leading Troy this weekend, hitting just .070%, losing the total kills battle by 13, and committing six more errors than the 17-5 (7-3) visitors. The rebuilding Eagles’ Maddie Bryant put up eight kills and 12 digs, while Skylar Ball, Carly Turner, and Baylor Bumford all added a pair of blocks. This loss extends the team’s losing streak to seven with an overall record of 6-15 and 1-9 conference record.

What’s Next?

Volleyball travels to Arkansas for a pair of matches, Friday against an Arkansas State squad who’s 13-8 (4-5) this season and fresh off their 35th straight victory over Louisiana Monroe and Saturday at Little Rock, 4-17 (2-7).

Rifle

Rifle lost 4502-4459 against 20th ranked UAB and 4592-4459 to 17th ranked North Georgia.

What’s Next?

The 2-5 rifle squad hosts VMI Saturday at 8 a.m. for Senior Day.

Men’s Tennis

Men’s tennis competed in the ITA Regional Championships in Gainesville, Florida over the weekend. Senior Murphy McCullough defeated Georgia Tech’s 6-4, 6-0 in the first round but lost to Florida’s Brian Berdusco 6-3, 2-6, 0-1 in the second. Freshman Alexandros Roumpis fell at the hands of Tech’s Chris Yun 5-7, 2-6, in the consolation round.

What’s Next?

Tennis will end its fall season when it hosts the Georgia Southern Championships this weekend.

Football

GS dominated New Mexico State, 41-7, at home amid atrocious weather conditions and a flooded field. Running backs Wesley Kennedy III and J.D. King each finished with 143 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and Kennedy added another score early in the third quarter on a punt return. The offense put up 403 total yards and averaged 7.2 yards a rush, mashing the Aggies’ front seven and controlling the pace of the game. The Eagle defense allowed only 59 yards passing on 23 attempts, and linebacker Rashard Byrd collected his second career pick six in an emotional game for a team still recovering from the loss of freshman offensive lineman Jordan Wiggins. 

What’s Next? 

Southern visits rival App state Thursday, Oct 31 on ESPNU as the Eagles look to strip the Mountaineers of their AP ranking for the second consecutive year. 

Michael Smith, The George-Anne Sports Reporter, gasports@georgiasouthern.edu