FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 27, 2009

Contact:  Robert Preston, Jr.,
              912.260.4276
              robert.preston@sgsc.edu

SGC Tigers deep and talented, have big goals for ‘09

The SGC Tigers men’s soccer team finished the pre-season with a 2-0 record, winning games over the Tallahassee Futbol Club (9-1) and over Thomas University (1-0).

In Coach Ken Kirsch’s first full season at the helm, he recruited and brought in 20 men for his freshmen class. Top recruits for 2009 were Felipe Nascimento, forward (Coconut Beach, Fla.); Jon Michael White, defender (Plantation, Fla.), Nuno Grougel, midfield (London, England); Joao Mendes, midfield (Deerfield Beach, Fla.), Josh Brooks, keeper (Leesburg, Fla.), Pierre St. Amour-Midfield (Paris, France), and Steven Kaelin, forward (Seminole, Fla.).

SGC returns seven players from the 2008 squad that went 12-4 and lost in the conference semi-finals. This group is led by Johnathan Waters, midfield (St. Simon Island, Ga.); Joel Salazar, defender (Colombia); and Tyler Albritton, defender (Savannah, Ga.). Coach Kirsch believes his teams’ strength lies in depth. “We have some very talented players and the good thing is we are at least one to two deep at every position,” he says. Coach Kirsch has set some lofty goals, the ultimate one being a trip to the national tournament held at Mercer Community College in New Jersey Nov. 19-24. “I set the bar high and now it is up to the players to go get it,” noted Coach Kirsch.“I believe in pushing men to reach their full potential and when their potential is met within a collective group, the sky is the limit.” The men opened up regular season play Friday with a home game against Andrew College. Sunday, Aug. 30, they take on Gordon College in Douglas. “ I think we could have something special here, but we need to continue to work hard and improve every practice, every day, and every game,” says Coach Kirsch. “My team will be very disciplined, play great defense, and entertaining to watch. We play a simple style which I call The Four P’s: Possession, Pressure, Physical, and Patient style. We will protect the ball and play as one unit, and this is the key to success.”

Coach Ken Kirsch’s staff includes former player Linley Laverdure (Australia) and assistant coach Larry Butler (Leesburg, Fla.). “Both of these men are well versed in the game of soccer and we are very fortunate to have them on our staff,” added Coach Kirsch. “We hope to create a buzz in Douglas this season, and we encourage all to come out and support your SGC Tigers.”

# # # # 

About South Georgia College

South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu) was founded in 1906 and is a two-year institution in the University System of Georgia. Located in Douglas, Ga., the college's environment gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty.