2019 Sun Belt Men’s Soccer News and Notes:
Standings | Composite Schedule | Stats
AROUND #SUNBELTMSOC
• Sun Belt Conference men's soccer has a busy slate ahead with nine matches on the schedule this week.
• Coastal Carolina (2-1-0) remained among the ranked in this week's national polls – 15th in the
United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I National Poll and 16th in the
College Soccer News Top 30 National Poll.
• Georgia State (3-0-1) is off to its best four-match start under head coach Brett Surrency. This marks the third time in the last four years Surrency has led the Panthers to three victories in the team’s opening four contests.
• Central Arkansas (2-0-1) is tied for the Sun Belt lead in goals per match (2.33), assists (5) and assists per match (1.67). Four different Bears have been credited with assists, led by sophomore forward Mathias Bendiksen with two in three matches.
• Georgia Southern (2-1-0) is in the midst of a three-match Florida road swing with contests at North Florida on Sept. 13 and Stetson on Sept. 18. The Eagles fell to No. 18 Florida Gulf Coast on the road last week.
• Appalachian State (3-1-0) is finishing off a four-match homestand this week. The Mountaineers have won three in a row and recorded two-straight shutouts.
• After a 10-day hiatus from the pitch, Howard (0-1) has the busiest week in the conference with three matches in five days. The Bison host their first two matches at home before traveling to Bryant for a Sunday matinee on Sept. 15. Howard has won three of its last four matches at home against Mount St. Mary's since 2006 and defeated Bryant at home last season.
• The 2019 Sun Belt Men's Soccer Championship, hosted by Appalachian State, is set for Nov. 13-17 at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex in Boone, N.C.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aris Briggs, Georgia State (Jr., F, Memphis, Tenn.)
Georgia State junior forward Aris Briggs finished the week with three goals to keep the Panthers undefeated in their first three matches for the first time since 2010. Briggs notched two goals in the 3-1 victory over Belmont, his second multi-goal performance of the season. Against UNC Asheville, Briggs fired a career-high eight shots and four shots on goal. He hit the equalizer in the 84th minute to force overtime in a match that ended in a 2-2 tie. Briggs ranks in NCAA Division I's top five in goals per match at 1.50. He has scored at least one goal in every match so far this season.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jacob Madden, Appalachian State (RFr., GK, Round Rock, Texas)
Appalachian State redshirt freshman goalkeeper Jacob Madden played a large role in the Mountaineers' weekend sweep, notching his first two career shutouts. Madden made four key saves in the 2-0 win over George Mason and two saves in the 1-0 win against American. He leads the Sun Belt with a 0.75 goals against average.
2019 Weekly Award Winners
Offensive Player
September 3: Alhaji Tambadu, Georgia Southern
September 10: Aris Briggs, Georgia State
Defensive Player
September 3: Alberto Ciroi, Coastal Carolina
September 10: Jacob Madden, Appalachian State
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Tuesday, September 10
Mount St. Mary's at Howard, 2 p.m.
Central Arkansas at Missouri State (ESPN+), 7 p.m.
Thursday, September 12
Brown at Howard, 2 p.m.
Friday, September 13
Georgia Southern at North Florida, 6 p.m.
Coastal Carolina at West Virginia, 6 p.m.
Dayton at Central Arkansas, 8 p.m.
Saturday, September 14
High Point at Appalachian State, 6 p.m.
Sunday, September 15
Howard at Bryant, 11 a.m.
Houston Baptist at Central Arkansas, 1 p.m.
All Times Central and Subject to Change