FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 19, 2010

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

Turnovers Costly for Tigers Soccer

Turnovers have proved to be a trouble spot for the South Georgia College men’s soccer team this spring. Last weekend, the turnover bug bit again and cost the Tigers two of three games.

On March 13, SGC traveled to St. Augustine to play Flagler College, an NCAA Division II school. Head coach Ken Kirsch wanted his players to see the speed of the game in NCAA competition and also get his sophomores some exposure to coaches at the next level. “We were victimized by ourselves once again with a slow start and too many turnovers in our zone. Before we knew it the score was 3-0 in the first 30 minutes of play. After this blitz we settled down and played some very good soccer,” commented Coach Kirsch. Felipe Nascimento scored the Tigers’ lone goal on an assist from Nuno Gourgel in the second half. Daniel Williams had 12 saves on the game but struggled in the first half and let a pair of goals he wishes he could have back. “I was pleased with the team’s effort throughout the game and once we got the pace of the game down we were able to build some attacks and really competed with a much bigger and deeper team. A game like this provides invaluable experience for our squad next fall,” he said.

The following afternoon, SGC played two area club teams in Douglas – the Jags from Jacksonville, Fla., and the South Georgia United from Valdosta. The team split the day with a 3-5 loss to the Jags and a 3-1 win over the United. Once again turnovers were the culprit. In a game totally dominated in possession by the Tigers and creating numerous scoring chances, the SGC turned the ball over in the zone four times and the Jags capitalized on all four give-aways. “It is frustrating to see a team in so much control of the match and then to look at the end result and realize they lost,” noted Coach Kirsch. “We played some very strong soccer and did a lot of things we are teaching but we have to take better care of the ball in our own zone. “ Pierre St. Amour, Felipe Nascimento and Gerald Jonah scored for the Tigers. Daniel Williams netted five saves.

The men rebounded with a convincing 3-1 win over the United in the second game. Steven Kaelin, Felipe Nascimento and Ben Brinkley scored for the Tigers. Daniel Williams notched four saves in the win. The Tigers took better care of the ball in the game and played some very beautiful soccer at times. The Tigers are now 2-2 this spring. They next play on Saturday, March 27 against the Savannah College of Art and Design at home at 11a.m.

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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.