Former Gwinnett Soccer Standouts Make Pre-season All-Conference

As a testimony to the outstanding soccer talent produced in Gwinnett County, GA, two former Gwinnett area soccer starts have been named to the All-Conference USA Pre-season Team last Wednesday.

Both teammates at the University of South Carolina, Juniors Sam Arthur and Jimmy Mauer are key contributors for the success of the Gamecoks in 2008. Arthur, out of Greater Atlanta Christian, spear headed the Gamecocks' attack with a conference best 12 goals and three assists for 27 points last season, and was a first team all-conference selection as a Sophomore.

Jimmy Mauer is a Junior Goal Keeper from Lawrenceville, but attended St. Pius X High School in Atlanta. Mauer was a second team all-conference selection in 2008. Mauer had a great year between the pipes with a 0.80 goals against average and 9 shutouts. That performance earned him Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week four times.

These are two examples of the plethora of soccer players coming out of Gwinnett County who have gone on to have stellar college careers. Some players, such as Josh Wolfe of the MLS Kansas City Wizzards (Parkview HS) and Justin Moore of Real Salt Lake (MLS) and the Atlanta Silverbacks (USL First Division) have made it to the pros. Justin Moore also played at Parkview High School and he played collegiately at Clemson. Back in the mid 90s, his older brother Jason Moore, also of Parkview HS, played collegiately at Virginia before having a stint with DC United.

With the growth of soccer in Gwinnett, there will undoubtedly be more players to excel at the college level and maybe event the professional ranks. Information in this article was gained from the Gwinnett Daily Post.