Georgia Soccer

Georgia Soccer has hired Greg Griffith as its new Executive Director. Griffith comes to Georgia Soccer from The US Soccer Foundation where he was the Director of Development. In his position with the Foundation, he increased revenues from $1 million in 2008 to an anticipated $7 for fiscal 2014. Griffith, who was a four-year player at James Madison University, begins his duties on January 6. He [show_disconnected][show_to accesslevel=’Subscriber’]replaces Rick Skirvin, who retired from Georgia Soccer earlier this fall after 15 years as a board member and Executive Director….The Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves are returning to the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in 2014….They will play home games at Atlanta Silverbacks Park, opening the schedule in May. Previously, the Silverbacks Reserves played in the NPSL from 2011-2012, with several players advancing to the Silverbacks professional side….When Mercer University men’s coach Brad Ruzzo announced the Bears’ annual awards, the Offensive MVP was senior Ehjayson Henry (St. Kitts), who was also the team MVP. Junior Ashani Samuels (Jamaica) and senior Brady O’Brien (Lawrenceville, Ga.) shared the Defensive MVP award. Newcomer of the Year was freshman Max Poore (McDonough, Ga.) and Most Improved went to Lawrenceville, Ga., sophomore Mark Riggins….Armstrong Atlantic State sophomore Taylor Russell (Marietta, Ga., has been named NSCAA NCAA Division II second team All-America. She is only the fourth Pirate to earn NSCAA All-America recognition….Senior Kelly Penston (Suwanee, Ga.), who had a hat trick in her final collegiate game, a 5-3 PBC quarterfinal loss to Lander, has been named first team Daktronics All-America. Preston received the PBC Golden Boot award as the league’s leading scorer with 18 goals, a new North Georgia single season record…..Duluth’s Chris Duvall, a senior at Wake Forest who played club soccer for the Concorde Fire, has been invited to the MLS Combine in Fort Lauderdale prior to the MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia…..Georgia freshmen Marion Crowder (Madison, Miss.) and Gabby Seiler (Peachtree City, Ga.) have been named to TopDrawerSoccer.com Freshmen Top 100.