Atlanta Soccer News: Art, Music and Culture: Men's Soccer Colleges in Georgia

More than 30 colleges in Georgia offered men's and/or women's soccer programs in the 2009-10 academic year. All sizes of school and competitive levels were represented. There may not be a college soccer program in Georgia with the pedigree of the University of North Carolina women or the Indiana University men, but these are some of the better options for student-athletes who want to get their degree while playing a reasonably high level of soccer.
Armstrong Atlantic State University
# In 2009, the Pirates women went 16-4-3. In fact, the university's web archive shows the team has posted a winning record every year since 2005. In 2009, the Pirates won the Peach Belt Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II second round in 2009. The university doesn't field a men's soccer team.

Armstrong Atlantic State University
11935 Abercorn St.
Savannah, GA 31419
800-633-2349
armstrong.edu
Berry College
On both the men's and women's sides, the Berry Vikings play an interesting mix of NCAA and NAIA teams. In 2009, the men were 12-2-4, while the women were 11-5-1. In addition, Berry senior defender Mark Bloom signed a pro contract to play for AC St. Louis of the North American Soccer League (NASL).

Berry College
2277 Martha Berry Hwy. N.W.
Mount Berry, GA 30149
706-232-5374
berry.edu
Clayton State University
Another member of the Peach Belt Conference, Clayton State is especially strong on the men's side. In 2009, the team was 11-5-1 and had four conference championships and five NCAA Division II appearances during the 2000s. The women struggled to a 4-9-1 record in 2009, however, the team did advance to the NCAA tournament in 2004 and 2005, winning a Peach Belt Conference title in 2005.

Clayton State University
2000 Clayton State Blvd.
Morrow, GA 30260
678-466-4000
clayton.edu
Columbus State University
Like Armstrong Atlantic State, Columbus State is a member of the Peach Belt Conference, qualified for the 2009 NCAA Division II tournament and fields only a women's team. Unfortunately for Armstrong Atlantic State, it was Columbus State that knocked it out of the NCAA tournament in 2009. Columbus State posted a 16-3-3 record in 2009 and advanced to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional final.

Columbus State University
4225 University Ave.
Columbus, GA 31907
706-568-2204
csucougars.com
Covenant College
Located in Lookout Mountain, Ga., Covenant is a Christian liberal arts college with a men's soccer program that had a strong year in 2009. The team went 13-6-2 and finished third in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) national tournament. The women's team finished with a 9-9-4 record in 2009 but managed to make a run for third place in the NCCAA national tournament as well.

Covenant College
14049 Scenic Highway
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
706-820-1560
Emory University
The Emory Eagles compete at the NCAA Division III level with a decent track record for success. In 2009, the men's team was 12-4-2, and the program has made 12 NCAA tournament appearances since 1984. Although the women's team was only 8-5-5 in 2009, it reached the NCAA tournament six times between 1993 and 2007.

Emory University
201 Dowman Drive
Atlanta, GA 30322
404-727-6123
emory.edu
Georgia College & State University
Yet another Peach Belt Conference school that only has a women's team, the Bobcats had a winning record in four of five seasons between 2005 and 2009. In 2009, the team was 10-6-5 overall, good for third in the conference.

Georgia College & State University
231 W. Hancock St.
Milledgeville, GA 31061
800-342-0471
gcsu.edu
Kennesaw State University
An NCAA Division I women's team, the 2009 Atlantic Sun Conference champion Kennesaw State Owls played Wake Forest in the first round of 2009 Women's College Cup NCAA Division I tournament. The Owls lost to the Demon Deacons 2-0, but showed they belonged in the big dance after an 11-6-0 season.

Kennesaw State University
1000 Chastain Road
Kennesaw GA 30144
770-423-6000
kennesaw.edu
Piedmont College
On the men's side, Piedmont finished with a .500 record or better every year between 2002 and 2009. In that same time period, the Piedmont women have had just two losing seasons. In 2009, both the men's and women's teams lost in the Great South Athletic Conference finals.

Piedmont College
165 Central Ave.
Demorest, GA 30535
706-778-3000
piedmont.edu
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
Perhaps the most surprising school, the SCAD men's program has been fairly successful since transitioning back to the NAIA from NCAA Division II before the 2003-04 season. In 2009, the Bees were 12-3-3 and fell in the Sun Conference championship match on penalty kicks, just missing a trip to the NAIA National Championships. On the women's side, SCAD was 8-8-0 in 2009, its first non-winning season since 2004.

Savannah College of Art and Design
P.O. Box 3146
Savannah, GA 31402
912-525-5000
scad.edu
Shorter College
This may be an NAIA program, but the Shorter men's soccer team must be doing something right. Not only was the team 12-6-2 in 2009, but senior defender Anthony O'Garro signed with the NASL's AC St. Louis. The women's team isn't quite as strong, but finished right around .500 in 2008 and 2009.

Shorter College
315 Shorter Ave.
Rome, GA 30165
800-868-6980
shorter.edu
The University of Georgia
The Georgia Bulldogs may only have a women's team, but it is a consistently strong NCAA DI program. In 2009, the team qualified for its third straight NCAA Division I tournament appearance. The Bulldogs advanced to the second round, where they lost to perennial powerhouse North Carolina, ending the year with a 15-6-1 record.

The University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
706-542-3000
uga.edu

Andrew College's Fighting Tigers soccer program practices at the Hord Athletic Complex, which is 120 yards by 80 yards, and it is part of a 30-acre complex for a number of sports. The Tigers also practice at Gilbert Field, which is lit up at night for night practice or games. Gilbert Field's dimensions are 220 yards by 130 yards. The Tigers also have a dedicated weight room with three bench presses and free weights. The men's soccer team is part of the National Junior College Athletic Association, and it competes with other Region XVII teams from two- and four-year colleges. The school also has a women's soccer team. Scholarships are available to students that have proven athletic ability and show true financial need. The team practices all year long, but games run from the end of August until October.

Andrew College
501 College Street
Cuthbert, GA 39840-5550
800-664-9250
andrewcollege.edu
Emory University

Emory University's soccer team practices at the Woodruff Physical Education center, which has indoor and outdoor facilities. The team also practices at North Druid Hills High School field. Students are required to practice in soccer camps during summer to prepare for the season. The Emory University soccer program is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and is eligible to compete in national tournaments. The club competes in tournaments from August through November, including the Lynchburg Kick-Off Classic and the Sonny Carter Invitational.

Emory Athletics
26 Eagle Row
Atlanta, GA 30322
404-727-6123
emoryathletics.com
Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern University's Soccer program practices and plays on Eagle Field, which can hold up to 500 spectators and has a press box. The Joseph P. Kennedy Residential Complex is open to all athletic teams, and the complex features several exercise machines, bench presses and free weights. Athletes must participate in soccer camps during the summer to prepare for the season. The school competes with other schools from August through November. The team is a member of NCAA Division I.

Georgia Southern University
1332 Southern Drive
Statesboro, GA‎ 30460
912-478-4636
georgiasouthern.edu