Greenbrier soccer players sign with colleges

At least one of the dorms at Shorter College will have a greener hue next year.

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Greenbrier High School defender Clay Carswell signed March 28 to play soccer for Shorter and coach Josh Severns.

Carswell hopes to room with Greenbrier teammate Johnny Paletar, who signed with Shorter earlier in the year. Greenbrier player Mary Kate Lollar also signed with the Rome, Ga., school.

Carswell and Paletar will join Shorter sophomore and former Greenbrier player Dallas Dickerson.

"I think it worked out for good," Carswell said.

Greenbrier forward Pieter James signed at the same time as Carswell, and he chose to stay local.

James will play for USC Aiken next season.

"His style fits into my philosophy," said Pacers coach Ike Ofoje, whose team finished second in the Peach Belt Conference last season. "We try to play possession soccer, and he does that well."

The Wolfpack earned the top seed in Region 3-AAAA after finishing the regular season with one region loss.

James was third on the team with six goals through March 19. He was tied for the team lead with seven assists.

"Phenomenal player," Carswell said of James. "He hustled all the time and never gave up."

Carswell anchored a defense that allowed 13 goals in 14 games.

"It was good knowing that he's back there," James said.

Ofoje said he'd been watching James for a couple years. James wanted to stay close to home.

Both parties got what they wanted.

"It will be hard for him his first year," Ofoje said. "By the second year, I hope he'll be the big man in the conference."

James and Carswell shared a cake during their signing ceremony on March 28. One side was decorated for Shorter and the other for the Pacers.

Greenbrier coach Chip Warren delivered a short address to the large crowd gathered in the school's cafeteria, and the players inked their signatures.