The Georgia Southern University men’s soccer team started off the 2014 season by participating in the Southern Conference/Big South Challenge in Boiling Springs, North Carolina finishing 1-1.

In the first round of the SoCon/Big South Challenge, GSU took on Gardner-Webb University. Less than two minutes into the first period, junior Emmanuel Raji scored GSU’s first goal of the season with an assist from senior Ethan Lapan.

During the ninth minute Ga. Southern scored again. Senior David Vargas Masis scored the second goal of the game, assisted by Raji. At the end of the first period, GWU trailed behind GSU 2-0.

During the second half of the game, the Eagles held off GWU’s attempts to score until the 81st minute when the Runnin’ Bulldogs scored their first and only goal of the game. The final score against GWU was 2-1.

Despite the success against GWU, the Eagles were defeated by the Winthrop University Eagles on Sunday afternoon. WU scored its first goal of the game in the 21st minute with a penalty kick.The score remained 0-1 through the rest of the first period.

In the 69th minute of the game, sophomore Jeremy Rector tied the game with a penalty kick, making the score 1-1. WU retaliated 52 seconds later, scoring its second goal of the game.

Despite GSU’s attempts to defend their goal and tie the game, WU scored again in the 78th minute. The GSU Eagles were unable to come back from WU’s two-shot lead, and WU triumphed with a 1-3 final score.

Overall, the Eagles finished the SoCon/Big South Challenge and their first two games of the season at 1-1.

Ga. Southern plays its first home game of the season on Thursday vs. Mercer University at 7 p.m.