University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Soccer Falls At Tennessee, 3-1
October 27, 2006 | Soccer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. The University of Georgia soccer team (10-8-0, 5-6-0 SEC) fell to Tennessee (10-5-3, 6-3-2 SEC) by a score of 3-1 Friday evening in Knoxville. Despite the loss, Georgia has still locked up a berth in the SEC Tournament due to LSU’s overtime victory over Arkansas. Georgia will be the No. 8 seed and will play No. 1-seeded Florida in the first round.
“Tonight was a tale of two halves,” said Coach Baker. “We were very sharp in the first half and created numerous scoring opportunities throughout the first 45 minutes. Carrie was clinical in her finish and could have had one or two more. Tennessee brought more desire and passion in the second half. After they equalized from range, we had two more tremendous opportunities to go ahead. Eventually they scored two more and we had no answers. It is disappointing to lose and not put ourselves in a better position within the conference.”
In the loss to Tennessee, Georgia drew first blood as freshman forward Carrie Patterson (Atlanta, Ga.) tucked away her 12th goal of the year at the 20:16 mark. The ball was played forward to senior midfielder Randi-Lynn Bruso (East Douglas, Mass.) who dribbled forward and slotted the ball into the box, hitting Patterson in stride. Patterson took a touch and tucked it past UT goalkeeper Sarah Kitchin. Kitchin got a hand on it but it was not enough to keep Patterson’s strike out of the back of the net. Bruso has now assisted on six of Patterson’s 12 goals.
Patterson has now recorded at least one point in six straight games and in seven of the last eight. Patterson’s goal also marked the first time Georgia has scored against the Lady Vols since Nov. 1, 2002, breaking a string of four consecutive shutouts of the Dogs by Tennessee.
With the goal, Patterson set yet another Georgia mark as she becomes the first player in Bulldog soccer history to score 20 points in a season in games against SEC opponents. She has now scored eight goals and assisted on four others in SEC play. She now holds the Georgia freshman records for: goals (12), assists (7), points (31) and game-winning goals (4).
Tennessee evened up the score at 57:13 as Ali Christoph rifled a shot from about 30 yards out, sailing it over the head of UGA freshman netminder Michelle Betos (Flushing, N.Y.).
The Lady Vols’ second goal came in the 67th minute as Mick Imgram buried a shot from 10-12 yards out as it was flicked on from Kylee Rossi and Mia Boyd after a long throw came into the box from Sarah Van Sickle.
Tennesssee’s third goal came at 82:22 when Kristin Doukakis took the centering cross from Emily Redberg and shot it to the right side of the goal. Redberg had carried the ball all the way down the right side to the endline and played it back into the box where Doukakis was able to run onto it.
The game was played in almost constant rain with a stiff wind kicking up in the second half.
Georgia has scored first in 12 games on the year but slip to 9-3 when doing so.
First-round play of the SEC Tournament will begin on Nov. 1 in Orange Beach, Ala.
Additional quotes from coaches and players
Head Coach Patrick Baker:
“We are thankful that LSU was able to beat Arkansas tonight and allow us to get a spot in Orange Beach. It is hard to believe that we could have finished tied for 3rd or possibly not have made the conference tournament at all based on one result. There is so much parity in the conference this year and it appears that on any given day, anything can happen. We will continue to work hard in preparation for a very talented Florida team and hopefully we can put forth a 90 minute performance.”
Freshman forward Carrie Patterson:
(On the loss to UT)
“We came out really well and dominated the first half. We had so many scoring chances to score another one we just couldn’t get there. In the second half they got their first goal and after that we seemed to let the game go. We kind of lost a lot of energy. I think if we played them again it could be a completely different game.”
(On the weather conditions)
“There were points when I liked the wet conditions because the ball would skip behind their defense and we could run onto it. Other times I would rather have had it be dry because then we could possess a little easier, and that is more our game. Depending on the situation it both helped and hurt us.
(On her record-breaking goal)
“It always feels great to break records, especially considering the great players that have come before me at Georgia. It is an honor, but the loss kind of puts a damper on the whole thing.”
(On leading the team offensively into the SEC Tournament)
“I don’t think I’m really leading the team in. This season it has taken a huge team effort from all over field. We are really excited to play Florida again. But just to make it to tournament is great. After starting conference play at 1-4 through the first five games, we were pretty skeptical about being able to make it. We had dug ourselves a hole but I am really glad we could climb out.”
(On Randi assisting another of her goals)
“I said to her after the goal that “As always you assisted”. Randi plays great thru balls. She makes it so easy to score. She is so composed in the midfield she just makes it easy for us up front, she puts it right there for us.
Senior midfielder Randi-Lynn Bruso:
(On the loss to UT)
“We played really well in the first half, we came out and dominated. We got good chances and we opened them up. We were able to move the ball around and we looked good and confident. For whatever reason, we let down in the second half and let them back in the game. Then suddenly, they took over. We just weren’t the same team in the second half as in the first half.”
(On making the SEC Tournament)
“We were so upset after losing to Tennessee because we knew there was a chance we couldn’t get in. To know that we are in and we still have a chance is awesome. I know what it feels like to not get in, especially when you know that you should have. We are lucky to get in but I hope that we will be able to put up a good performance against Florida in the first round and prove that we do belong there.”
(On the play of Carrie Patterson)
“I think it is a combination of a lot of things that makes her so good. She is making great runs and getting open. Any midfielder will tell you that when you have forward who can do what she can, it makes it so much easier. As I have said before, if I get a ball anywhere near her, I know she has a chance to latch onto it and do something special. We always seem to find each other. I like playing with her, she makes my job easy in the midfield and she creates so much for us up front.”
Senior defender Catherine Bruce:
(On the loss to UT)
“We were a different team in the first half, we were a better team in the first half. Unfortunately we didn’t capitalize on some of our second-half opportunities and Tennessee took advantage of our lack luster performance in the 2nd half.”
(On the weather conditions)
“It definitely was harder to strike the ball and harder to get a good touch on it. But as difficult as it was for us, they played in the same conditions we did. So we can’t attribute anything to the weather, they had to play in it too.”
(On making the SEC Tournament)
“It means the world to me. We were so disappointed last year when didn’t see our name go up for the 64 teams in the NCAA Tournament. There is nothing worse than ending the season knowing that you don’t even have a shot of making it. By making SEC’s we have at least given ourselves a chance. Anything can happen. Even though we are seeded eighth, it doesn’t matter. We’ve been given a shot and I’m excited to see what can happen.”
(On the play of Carrie Patterson)
“Carrie has been huge for us. She has had a lot of weight on her shoulders all season as our top scorer and go-to player. I think she has handled the pressure of that exceptionally well. A lot of players would buckle under that but she has risen to the occasion. Even in her youth she has stepped up and taken responsibility into her hands. She has been a part of so many of our goals. It is a tremendous accomplishment for such a young player.”
