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Local Roundup: Eagles get big win over Elon
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Julian Donaldson, seen here in a file phote from earlier this season, came off the bench Sunday to score the game-winner over Elon at Eagle Field. - photo by MICHELLE BOAEN/staff
From staff reports

    The Georgia Southern men’s soccer team blanked Elon, Sunday afternoon, in a 1-0 Southern Conference victory. It’s fifth shutout of the season for GSU and fourth in conference play.  The Eagles improve their record to 6-3-3 (2-1-2 SoCon) while the Phoenix fall to 8-5-2 (2-2-1 SoCon) on the season.
    After a scoreless first half, sophomore Julian Donaldson notched the game-winner in the 70th minute to break the scoring drought.  After breaking away from a Phoenix defender, Donaldson blasted a shot from the right side of the box that ended up in the top left shelf of the goal.  It was Donaldson’s third goal of the season.
    “It was a great goal,” said head coach Kevin Kennedy.  “I think he hit it with a lot of power.  It was a great finish from a tough angle.”
    Down a goal, Elon’s conference leading offense continued to battle, posting 12 second-half shots, six of them on goal.  But the experienced Eagles defense successfully foiled Elon’s attempts to even the score.
    “I think Elon is very well-organized and very well-coached,” explained Kennedy.  “They have several dangerous players.  I’m pleased with the way we defended Kiki (Willis) and Nick (Aparicio) and keeping those two at bay.”
    The two underclassmen combined on a total six shots with two on goal.
    The shutout is keeper Adam Webb’s fourth of the 2006 campaign and 11th of his career, which moves him up tied for first in GSU men’s soccer career shutouts record book, sharing it with former player and coach, Kevin Chambers.
    “Overall, I was really pleased with the performance today,” added Kennedy.  “I think it’s always tough to follow up a conference loss with another conference game.  You never know how they’re going to respond, coming off a tough loss at Charleston.  I thought it was one of our best games of the year.”
    The Eagles look ahead to their next Southern Conference bout at Spartanburg, N.C. when they take on Wofford, Tuesday at 4 p.m.
    “We’re focused now,” added Kennedy.  “We need to go to Wofford on a day’s rest and try to get results there.”

Portal Middle ends season with win
    The Portal Middle School football team defeated Toombs County Middle 44-26 in football action Saturday.
    Cory Walker scored four touchdowns for the Panthers and Josh Washington led the defense for the Panthers, who end their season at 4-1.

Lady Eagles shut out by UNCG
    The UNC Greensboro defense held Georgia Southern to just two shots and a first-half goal was more than enough offense as the Spartans blanked the Eagles 1-0 Sunday afternoon at Eagle Field.
    UNC Greensboro (5-7-2, 4-0-1) tallied seven shots in the first 20 minutes, two of those on goal, but was unable to find the net.  The Spartans finally converted at the 29:06 mark when senior Deven Beachem redirected a long throw-in from junior Karla Davis in front of the net.
    From there the UNCG defense made the goal stand up.  Georgia Southern’s (5-7-1, 3-2) first shot of the afternoon came with 19:09 remaining in the match and was able to put just one more on net, a header by freshman Mallory Springfield with five minutes left.  The Spartans outshot GSU 22-2 on the day.
    Georgia Southern heads back out on the road for a match at Furman on Thursday at 7 p.m.

GSU volleyball loses fourth straight
    For the second day in a row, the Eagles took the first two games, but could not hold on to the lead, eventually falling to Elon 3-2 (27-30, 20-30, 30-26, 30-23, 15-7).  The Eagles fall to 8-7 (2-5), while the Phoenix improve to 5-12 (4-3).
    The Eagles won games one and two thanks to two solo blocks from senior Jennifer Charles.  Senior Jennifer Schenk and redshirt freshman Amy Haines combined for 16 kills in the first two games with nine and seven, respectively.  Georgia Southern held the Phoenix to a .089 hitting percentage and allowed no aces over the two frames.
    In the last three games of the five-game match, Elon hit .289.  The Phoenix had 11 blocks, including two solos from Juliena Gigon and five assists from Mandy Wilson.  The Eagles hit .114 in the final three, managing only 30 kills.
    The Eagles travel to Appalachian State on Saturday. Match time is set for 7:30 p.m.

Eagles finish fourth at Wolf Run
    The Georgia Southern golf team concluded the final round in fourth place, Sunday, at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate in Zionsville, Ind.  Over the three-round, two-day tournament, the Eagles carded a 46-over 898 at the par-71, 7,195-yard Wolf Run Golf Club.
    Chris Smith’s finished the tournament tied in third place, shooting a final round 77, and finishing competition at 4-over 217.  His single-round (65) and three-round (217) scores mark a career best.
    Sophomore Jordan Johnstun finished in 11th place, shooting a 77 on the day.
    The Eagles next competition is slated for Feb. 10-11 at the University of Florida’s Gator Invitational.