Box Score | Bracket | Championship Central
 
STATESBORO, Ga. – Top-seeded Georgia State completed its goal with a four-goal performance in a 4-2 victory over second-seeded Georgia Southern to win the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Soccer Championship at Eagle Field at Erk Russell Athletic Complex.
 
Georgia State (11-6-2, 2-0-2 Sun Belt) had not won in its three previous Sun Belt Championship title match appearances, but this time, the Panthers would not be denied as senior midfielder Hannes Burmeister had the match of his career with three goals. His three goals and Georgia State’s four total were the most in a Sun Belt Tournament final since the conference reinstated men’s soccer in 2014. The four goals were the third-most in a championship final in conference history.
 
Burmeister, the Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, had not scored a goal all season. His first two goals came on penalty kicks in the 29th and 75th minutes with the first opening the scoring and the second tying the match at 2-2.
 
Burmeister scored the game-winner and solidified his Sun Belt Championship Most Outstanding Player award with a chip over the goalkeeper in the 83rd minute to put the Panthers up 3-2. Burmeister’s third goal was the 26th of his career, which ranks ninth on the school’s all-time career goals list.
 
Junior forward/midfielder Frank Rosenwald scored with his fourth goal of the season in the final minute to put a stamp on the win for the Panthers.
 
Georgia Southern (7-7-3, 2-1-1) got both of its goals in the second half. Senior midfielder/forward Javier Carbonell tied the match at 1-1 in the 66th minute with a steal from Georgia Southern redshirt goalkeeper Kyle Lancaster, playing for an injured Paul Tyson. Carbonell pressed Lancaster on a clear, stole the ball and knocked in the one-timer for his 15th goal of the season. Carbonell’s 15 goals tie the school’s single-season record for goals with Daryl Watson (1987). Sophomore midfielder Aldair Cortes blasted a free kick from 36 yards out in the 72nd minute to give the Eagles their first and only lead of the game.
 
That lead would only last for under three minutes until Burmeister knocked home his second penalty kick of the match, switching the momentum back to Georgia State for the final 15 minutes.
 
The Panthers now await their postseason destination and opponent, which will be unveiled Monday, Nov. 12 at 1:00 p.m. ET during the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship Selection Show.
 
2018 Sun Belt Men's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team
Carlos Caro, Howard
Ian Bennett, Appalachian State
Zeiko Harris, Appalachian State
Yazeed Matthews, Coastal Carolina
Tsiki Ntsabeleng, Coastal Carolina
Gonzalo Talavera, Georgia Southern
Javier Carbonell, Georgia Southern
Aldair Cortes, Georgia Southern
Liam Fitzsimmons, Georgia State
Max Hemmings, Georgia State
Frank Rosenwald, Georgia State
Most Outstanding Player – Hannes Burmeister, Georgia State
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Monday, November 12
2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship Selection Show (NCAA.com), 1:00 p.m.
 
Thursday, November 15
NCAA Championship First Round (Campus Sites)
 
Sunday, November 18
NCAA Championship Second Round (Campus Sites)
 
All Times Eastern and Subject to Change