George Proctor

Men's Soccer

Behind The Mask: George Proctor

GEORGE PROCTOR
Defender Senior, Leeds, England (Woodkirk Academy)

ON THE FIELD

> Led a Georgia State defense that allowed just six goals this season to lead the NCAA with 0.6 goals against average.

> Named the 2020 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year as well as the 2020 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

"It means a lot to me to get a personal achievement," Proctor said. "However, I like to play as a team and win as a team, but getting personal awards is always great. I have worked really hard the last four years and to be recognized my senior year is a great feeling."

> Despite being a defender, Proctor finished the season with two goals, both coming in the last two matches of the year, which proved to be critical to the Panthers earning the No. 2-seed in this weekend's Sun Belt Conference Championship. The second one came via a free kick against Central Arkansas and took social media by storm.

"I always knew I was going to shoot, I just didn't know quite know it would end up how it did. It was about three minutes to go and I knew we needed a goal, so I decided why not shoot. As soon as it left my foot I kind of knew it was going in. Then the celebration happened and I kind of 'blacked-out' while we were celebrating. It was a good goal and a good win."

> To go along with the season-ending awards, Proctor earned Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week honors three times this year, including the final two weeks of the season.

> He currently sits tied for 13th in the country in total assists (top 5 in the Sun Belt) and tied for 18th in the nation in goals (top 10 in the league). He is also in the top 25 nationally in points and in the top 10 in the Sun Belt Conference in that category.

OFF THE FIELD

> Standing at 6-1, Proctor is one of the many student-athletes on the men's soccer team to hail from England. He came to Atlanta via Leeds, England, and had never been to the United States before showing up for college.
When asked if there is a city in the United States he has been to that is similar to his hometown of Leeds, Proctor remarked, "No, not really. It is much colder in England. Atlanta has some similar parts to Leeds, but it is also very different."

> Majoring in exercise science, he would obviously like to continue playing soccer after graduation, but also has a plan when he hangs up the cleats.
"If I don't play (soccer) after college I will definitely go into coaching soccer," Proctor said. "Whether it is young kids or at the collegiate level, I would like to coach."

> Georgia State will host No. 3-seed Central Arkansas on Friday night at 7 p.m., at Center Parc Stadium in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championship.

Our weekly 'Behind the Mask' segment is presented by Ford. Visit buyfordnow.com to learn more.
 
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