ATLANTA – After an off-season where many wondered if a 2020 season would take place, the Georgia State men's soccer team will kick of the year on Friday night traveling to Macon, Ga., to face Mercer at 7 p.m. at Betts Stadium.
THE MATCHUP
? Georgia State men's soccer heads to Macon, Ga., for its first match of the season to take on Mercer at Betts Stadium.
? This will mark the first of an 11-game regular season schedule, including a home-and-home-series with the Bears. Mercer returns to Atlanta on Oct. 6.
? The Panthers lead the all-time series with Mercer 36-18-3, but trails in Macon 12-13-1.
? Georgia State earned a 2-1 win over Mercer in overtime last season.
THE PRESEASON
? Georgia State got about midway through spring practice when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the sports world.
? Senior Aris Briggs was named the Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year earlier this month.
? Briggs was also one of four Panthers along with Matthew Fearnley, Ross Finnie, and Paul Tyson to earn All-Sun Belt Preseason recognition
? Tyson was also named one of the top 10 goalkeepers in the country entering the 2020 season by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
QUICK HITS
? Georgia State opened last season undefeated through nine matches (6-0-3 record), surpassing the previous school record of seven games without a loss to start a season set in 1967.
? Senior forward Aris Briggs finished last season 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), and was tied for first with six game-winning goals.
? The Panthers turn six starters from last season while welcoming nine newcomers to the program this year.
? After transferring in from Presbyterian College and missing last season due to an injury, Andrew Miller-Bell will make his debut on the pitch on Friday night.
? 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.
WHAT'S NEXT
? Georgia State will play a second-straight road match to open the season traveling to Columbia, S.C., next Thursday to face South Carolina at 7 p.m.
? The Panthers open the home portion of the schedule on Sept. 30, hosting UAB at 5 p.m. at the GSU Soccer Complex.
