Bree Hicken

Men's Soccer 10/3/2020 9:30:00 AM

#StateNotSouthern Sunday as Men's Soccer Hosts Eagles

The Panthers are 3-0 to start a season for the first time since 2003.

ATLANTA – After three-straight impressive non-conference performances to open the season, Georgia State will host Georgia Southern in its first Sun Belt Conference match of the season on Sunday at 2 p.m., at the GSU Soccer Complex.

Georgia State (3-0) scored an impressive 4-0 victory over UAB on Wednesday night to begin a stretch of three-straight home matches in seven days. For the second-straight week the Panthers swept Sun Belt Conference weekly honors and have outscored their opponents 9-2 to start the season.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, fans will be required to wear masks and are encouraged to bring their own seating to help with social distancing. Admission and parking at the GSU Soccer Complex is free of charge.

#StateNotSouthern

Georgia State continues a three-match home stand by opening Sun Belt Conference play and hosting in-state rival Georgia Southern.
Georgia State leads the all-time series with the Eagles 28-11-6, including a 14-6-1 mark at home.
The Panthers split a pair of matches with the Eagles last season. Georgia State won 4-0 in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, but Georgia Southern got the best of State with a 2-1 win in Atlanta on Oct. 12.
Georgia Southern has played the exact same schedule as Georgia State so far through three matches but have come away just 1-2, while the Panthers currently stand 3-0.
This will mark the first of a home-and-home series with the Eagles this year. The Panthers will make the trip to Statesboro in two weeks.

THE LATEST

Georgia State scored a 4-0 win over UAB on Wednesday night to improve to 3-0 on the season. The Panthers are undefeated through three games for the first time since 2003.
In Georgia State's first three matches, seven different players have scored goals for the Panthers. Aris Briggs and Matthew Fearnley each have a pair of goals, while Jeryn Hodge, Simon Carlson, Logan Luque, Justin Guest, and Max Wilkins have each scored once.
For a second-straight week, Georgia State has swept Sun Belt Conference weekly honors. Matthew Fearnley (Offensive) and George Proctor (Defensive) garnered recognition on Wednesday.
Georgia State was named the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week on Sept. 21, following the Panthers 2-1 season opening win over Mercer.
Senior forward Aris Briggs took home a trophy case of hardware in Week 1 earning three awards. He scored two goals against Mercer including a header in the 81st minute that proved to be the game winner. For his efforts, he earned the following awards.
- Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week
- United Soccer Coaches Players of the Week
- TopDrawerSoccer.com Player of the Week
Georgia State is undefeated through three matches for a second-straight year. The Panthers started last season unbeaten in their first nine matches - a school record. The previous school record of seven games with a loss to start the season was set in 1967.

QUICK HITS

Senior forward Aris Briggs leads the Sun Belt Conference with eight point and is tied for the league lead in both goals (2) and assists (2). Last year he finished with 16 goals and one assist for 33 total points. His 16 goals ranked seventh among all players in Division I men's soccer and ranked tied for ninth in the GSU record book for goals scored in a single season. He led the Sun Belt in total points (33), points per game (1.65), goals (16), goals per game (0.80).
Georgia State has appeared in five-straight Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship Games, last earning the title in 2018 before appearing in the NCAA Tournament.

SUN BELT WEEKLY HONORS

Georgia State seniors Aris Briggs and Paul Tyson earned Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honors on Sept. 23, following a 2-1 win over Mercer to start the season. Briggs finished with two goals, while Tyson made seven saves keeping the Bears off the scoreboard in the first half. It marked the second time that Briggs was honored in his career and the fourth time that Tyson was recognized.
Matthew Fearnley and George Proctor swept the Week 2 awards. Fearnley scored the first goal of Georgia State's 3-1 win over South Carolina, while Proctor impressed on the backline that allowed just one late Gamecock goal.

FOUR PANTHERS GARNER PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE ACCOLADES

Georgia State had four players named to the 2020 All-Sun Belt Preseason recognition, including Aris Briggs, Matthew Fernley, Ross Finnie, and Paul Tyson. Briggs was named the league's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. He and Tyson have earned preseason recognition in each of the last two seasons.

TYSON NAMED TOP 10 GOALKEEPER BY TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM

Georgia State senior goalkeeper Paul Tyson has been named one of the top 10 goalkeepers in the country entering the 2020 season by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Tyson, a native of Liverpool, England, earned 2019 Sun Belt All-Tournament Team honors last year after guiding the Panthers to a fifth-straight Sun Belt Conference Championship Game appearance.

REACHING TRIPLE DIGITS

GSU head coach Brett Surrency reached the 100-win plateau in the regular season finale last year. He has led GSU to 11 or more wins in three consecutive seasons and is the only coach in GSU history to take the Panthers to the NCAA Tournament.
Surrency is currently the second-winningest head coach in GSU men's soccer history (104), behind only Scottie O'Neill (143), who coached the team from 1976-86.

Following Sunday afternoon's match, Georgia State will close out the home stand hosting Mercer at 7 p.m., on Tuesday at the GSU Soccer Complex.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Paul Tyson: GK; 6' 7"; Senior

#10 Matthew Fearnley: M; 5' 10"; Junior

#4 Ross Finnie: M; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#15 Justin Guest: M; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#16 George Proctor: D; 6' 1"; Senior

#19 Max Wilkins: F; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#23 Logan Luque: M; 5' 11"; Junior

#31 Aris Briggs: F; 6' 4"; Senior

#12 Simon Carlson: MF; 5' 6"; Freshman

#27 Jeryn Hodge: F; 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#1 Paul Tyson
: 6' 7"; Senior
: GK

#10 Matthew Fearnley
: 5' 10"; Junior
: M

#4 Ross Finnie
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: M

#15 Justin Guest
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: M

#16 George Proctor
: 6' 1"; Senior
: D

#19 Max Wilkins
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: F

#23 Logan Luque
: 5' 11"; Junior
: M

#31 Aris Briggs
: 6' 4"; Senior
: F

#12 Simon Carlson
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: MF

#27 Jeryn Hodge
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: F