University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldogs Host Vanderbilt, Kentucky This Weekend
October 07, 2008 | Soccer
ATHENS, Ga. --- In their second consecutive weekend at the UGA Soccer Stadium, the Georgia Bulldogs welcome Vanderbilt and Kentucky to the UGA Soccer Stadium for two of the final three home games of the 2008 season. Friday night, the Bulldogs will take on the Commodores at 7 p.m. and on Sunday afternoon, Georgia will face Kentucky in a kickoff set for 1 p.m. GXtra will provide audio coverage of both contests. The first 500 fans to Friday’s contest against Vanderbilt will receive a free Georgia Soccer t-shirt.
Scouting The Commodores And Wildcats
Although these two particular opponents don’t have the kind of history as some of Georgia’s other opponents, Vanderbilt and Kentucky have had a recent string of success that should make any team take notice. The Commodores, after struggling somewhat in 2007, have already surpassed their six wins from last season and are eyeing double-digit victories once again. The Wildcats have struggled this season, but just two seasons removed from an SEC championship, they’ve got the experience needed to make improvements during the 2008 season.
Vanderbilt doesn’t have one major scoring threat. Instead, the Commodores have any number of players who can score goals; a total of 11 players have scored for Vanderbilt and seven of those have scored at least two goals. The aggressive Vanderbilt offense can be surmised by the SEC-best 285 shots taken, nearly 70 shots better than second place Tennessee. With 138 shots on goal, which is also first in the conference, the Commodores have forced opposing goalkeepers to always be aware when Vanderbilt is on the attack. Sophomore forward Molly Kinsella, who was a Freshman All-SEC selection in 2007 after scoring six goals and handing out three assists, has made an impact with five goals and four assists, both team highs, this season for Vanderbilt.
A solid defense is the best complement to an aggressive offense. Even though it has allowed 18 goals through 12 games this season, the Vanderbilt defense has had success during the season. The start of the conference season has brought some difficulties to the unit, but the young group has quickly improved throughout the year. After two opening weekend losses at home, Vanderbilt rebounded last weekend by battling No. 11 Florida to overtime before the Gators were able to get the game-winner in extra time. Sunday, however, Vanderbilt broke through for its first conference victory with a 2-1 win against South Carolina.
After struggling throughout the non-conference portion of their season, the Kentucky Wildcats have made good strides with the conference season now underway. In the first weekend, Kentucky came away with four points after tying Auburn 0-0 and defeating Alabama 2-0. The Wildcats couldn’t get any points in their two games last weekend, but battling Florida to a 3-2 double overtime decision shows that Kentucky can be competitive against even the best teams in the conference.
What’s been one of the keys for Kentucky has been the play of sophomore goalkeeper Sydney Hiance. Thus far, she’s posted four shutouts for the Wildcats and now has eight for her career, which is fifth all-time. She’s put together an impressive streak of shutouts for Kentucky, holding teams scoreless in four of the previous five games. She was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week following shutouts against Auburn and Alabama.
Offensively for Kentucky, sophomore forward Laura Novikoff is the primary attacker with five scores on the season. As a freshman, she tied for the team lead in goals with four and has already surpassed that mark with five goals in 2008 and teammate Giuleana Lopez has scored three goals.
The Kentucky defense returns all four starters from the 2007 season in which the Wildcats boasted a 1.10 goals against average and was clearly the strength of the squad. Julie Hall, Katie Fahey, Kate Hughes and Tara Herold have played many games together and as they continue to throughout the year, the defense will continue to get better.
Last Weekend Against Arkansas And LSU
The return to the UGA Soccer Stadium brought a little bit of good fortune to the Bulldog soccer team as it had a couple of good efforts last weekend, despite losing a tough 2-1 contest Sunday. On Friday, freshman Ashley Miller scored her third goal of the year in the second overtime and assisted on another to give the host Bulldogs a 2-1 double overtime victory against the visiting Arkansas Razorbacks. It was the first victory for Georgia since its 2-0 victory over Utah at the end of August. Miller’s game-winner was also her first goal since her two-goal effort in the season opener against Mercer.
The visiting Razorbacks (9-2-0, 2-1-0) were the first to get on the scoreboard. Georgia was attempting to play an offside trap, but a perfectly timed pass by Abbey Wilburn sent Sophie Wentz into a one-on-one with goalie Michelle Betos. Wentz lobbed a perfect shot over Betos and into the net for a 1-0 lead in the 58th minute. Georgia would counter with its first goal in the 59th minute. Carrie Patterson scored for the second game in a row after getting a pass from Miller, which Patterson blasted from 15-yards out to quickly even the score at 1-1.
Both teams didn’t get any significant scoring opportunities in the first overtime, but the second overtime wouldn’t last long. Just 54 seconds into the second overtime, Bailey Powell sent a free kick from nearly midfield into Arkansas’ 18-yard box, where Miller was able to get a head on it and the ball found its way into the bottom right corner of the net for the game-winner.
Georgia came up on the wrong end of a 2-1 decision Sunday against LSU. The Tigers scored two first half goals, with their first coming in the 12th minute as Melissa Clark found the back of the net after a series of headers to give the Tigers an early advantage. The visitors scored again in the 29th minute when Malorie Rutledge’s unassisted goal stretched LSU’s lead to 2-0. Georgia got on the board in the 78th minute when Megan Tomlinson’s shot was saved by LSU goalkeeper Mo Isom, but Carrie Patterson was there for the rebound and scored an easy goal to pull the Bulldogs to within one. Patterson’s goal was the 30th of her career, moving the Atlanta native into second place on the UGA career goals list. However, Georgia was unable to capitalize on several chances to tie the game in the final minutes.
History With The Commodores and Wildcats
Georgia and Vanderbilt have met 15 times previously with Georgia coming away with wins six times. In games played at the UGA Soccer Stadium, Vanderbilt owns a 4-3 record and has won the last two meetings in Athens. Overall, the visiting team has won each of the last four meetings. The last two contests have gone to overtime, with both Georgia and Vanderbilt winning one game apiece.
In 14 all-time meetings with the Kentucky Wildcats, the Bulldogs own an 8-4-2 record. Georgia owns a 4-2 mark in games played at the UGA Soccer Stadium and the Bulldogs have won the last four meetings held at home. Kentucky is one of two opponents Georgia has faced in a penalty kick situation; in the opening round of the 1999 SEC Tournament, Georgia defeated Kentucky 5-4 in PKs after regulation time ended with the score 1-1. The Bulldogs have held the Wildcats to just two goals in the last nine meetings between the two teams.
In the Patrick Baker era, the Bulldogs are 2-2 against Vanderbilt and 2-1 against Kentucky.
Patterson Now Second All-Time In Goals
With goals in three consecutive games, junior forward Carrie Patterson has quickly ascended to No. 2 on Georgia’s all-time goals scored list. This weekend, she tied and passed Stephanie Yarem, who scored 29 goals in her career. Patterson, who now has scored 30 goals in her Georgia soccer career, is just three goals away from tying Mandy Aiken for the all-time lead.
What’s Next
After a four-game home stand, Georgia will hit the road for its last full weekend on the road during the regular season. On Oct. 17, the Bulldogs will face Mississippi State for a 8 p.m. ET start and on Sunday, Georgia will head to Oxford for a 2 p.m. ET contest with Ole Miss.
Scouting The Commodores And Wildcats
Although these two particular opponents don’t have the kind of history as some of Georgia’s other opponents, Vanderbilt and Kentucky have had a recent string of success that should make any team take notice. The Commodores, after struggling somewhat in 2007, have already surpassed their six wins from last season and are eyeing double-digit victories once again. The Wildcats have struggled this season, but just two seasons removed from an SEC championship, they’ve got the experience needed to make improvements during the 2008 season.
Vanderbilt doesn’t have one major scoring threat. Instead, the Commodores have any number of players who can score goals; a total of 11 players have scored for Vanderbilt and seven of those have scored at least two goals. The aggressive Vanderbilt offense can be surmised by the SEC-best 285 shots taken, nearly 70 shots better than second place Tennessee. With 138 shots on goal, which is also first in the conference, the Commodores have forced opposing goalkeepers to always be aware when Vanderbilt is on the attack. Sophomore forward Molly Kinsella, who was a Freshman All-SEC selection in 2007 after scoring six goals and handing out three assists, has made an impact with five goals and four assists, both team highs, this season for Vanderbilt.
A solid defense is the best complement to an aggressive offense. Even though it has allowed 18 goals through 12 games this season, the Vanderbilt defense has had success during the season. The start of the conference season has brought some difficulties to the unit, but the young group has quickly improved throughout the year. After two opening weekend losses at home, Vanderbilt rebounded last weekend by battling No. 11 Florida to overtime before the Gators were able to get the game-winner in extra time. Sunday, however, Vanderbilt broke through for its first conference victory with a 2-1 win against South Carolina.
After struggling throughout the non-conference portion of their season, the Kentucky Wildcats have made good strides with the conference season now underway. In the first weekend, Kentucky came away with four points after tying Auburn 0-0 and defeating Alabama 2-0. The Wildcats couldn’t get any points in their two games last weekend, but battling Florida to a 3-2 double overtime decision shows that Kentucky can be competitive against even the best teams in the conference.
What’s been one of the keys for Kentucky has been the play of sophomore goalkeeper Sydney Hiance. Thus far, she’s posted four shutouts for the Wildcats and now has eight for her career, which is fifth all-time. She’s put together an impressive streak of shutouts for Kentucky, holding teams scoreless in four of the previous five games. She was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week following shutouts against Auburn and Alabama.
Offensively for Kentucky, sophomore forward Laura Novikoff is the primary attacker with five scores on the season. As a freshman, she tied for the team lead in goals with four and has already surpassed that mark with five goals in 2008 and teammate Giuleana Lopez has scored three goals.
The Kentucky defense returns all four starters from the 2007 season in which the Wildcats boasted a 1.10 goals against average and was clearly the strength of the squad. Julie Hall, Katie Fahey, Kate Hughes and Tara Herold have played many games together and as they continue to throughout the year, the defense will continue to get better.
Last Weekend Against Arkansas And LSU
The return to the UGA Soccer Stadium brought a little bit of good fortune to the Bulldog soccer team as it had a couple of good efforts last weekend, despite losing a tough 2-1 contest Sunday. On Friday, freshman Ashley Miller scored her third goal of the year in the second overtime and assisted on another to give the host Bulldogs a 2-1 double overtime victory against the visiting Arkansas Razorbacks. It was the first victory for Georgia since its 2-0 victory over Utah at the end of August. Miller’s game-winner was also her first goal since her two-goal effort in the season opener against Mercer.
The visiting Razorbacks (9-2-0, 2-1-0) were the first to get on the scoreboard. Georgia was attempting to play an offside trap, but a perfectly timed pass by Abbey Wilburn sent Sophie Wentz into a one-on-one with goalie Michelle Betos. Wentz lobbed a perfect shot over Betos and into the net for a 1-0 lead in the 58th minute. Georgia would counter with its first goal in the 59th minute. Carrie Patterson scored for the second game in a row after getting a pass from Miller, which Patterson blasted from 15-yards out to quickly even the score at 1-1.
Both teams didn’t get any significant scoring opportunities in the first overtime, but the second overtime wouldn’t last long. Just 54 seconds into the second overtime, Bailey Powell sent a free kick from nearly midfield into Arkansas’ 18-yard box, where Miller was able to get a head on it and the ball found its way into the bottom right corner of the net for the game-winner.
Georgia came up on the wrong end of a 2-1 decision Sunday against LSU. The Tigers scored two first half goals, with their first coming in the 12th minute as Melissa Clark found the back of the net after a series of headers to give the Tigers an early advantage. The visitors scored again in the 29th minute when Malorie Rutledge’s unassisted goal stretched LSU’s lead to 2-0. Georgia got on the board in the 78th minute when Megan Tomlinson’s shot was saved by LSU goalkeeper Mo Isom, but Carrie Patterson was there for the rebound and scored an easy goal to pull the Bulldogs to within one. Patterson’s goal was the 30th of her career, moving the Atlanta native into second place on the UGA career goals list. However, Georgia was unable to capitalize on several chances to tie the game in the final minutes.
History With The Commodores and Wildcats
Georgia and Vanderbilt have met 15 times previously with Georgia coming away with wins six times. In games played at the UGA Soccer Stadium, Vanderbilt owns a 4-3 record and has won the last two meetings in Athens. Overall, the visiting team has won each of the last four meetings. The last two contests have gone to overtime, with both Georgia and Vanderbilt winning one game apiece.
In 14 all-time meetings with the Kentucky Wildcats, the Bulldogs own an 8-4-2 record. Georgia owns a 4-2 mark in games played at the UGA Soccer Stadium and the Bulldogs have won the last four meetings held at home. Kentucky is one of two opponents Georgia has faced in a penalty kick situation; in the opening round of the 1999 SEC Tournament, Georgia defeated Kentucky 5-4 in PKs after regulation time ended with the score 1-1. The Bulldogs have held the Wildcats to just two goals in the last nine meetings between the two teams.
In the Patrick Baker era, the Bulldogs are 2-2 against Vanderbilt and 2-1 against Kentucky.
Patterson Now Second All-Time In Goals
With goals in three consecutive games, junior forward Carrie Patterson has quickly ascended to No. 2 on Georgia’s all-time goals scored list. This weekend, she tied and passed Stephanie Yarem, who scored 29 goals in her career. Patterson, who now has scored 30 goals in her Georgia soccer career, is just three goals away from tying Mandy Aiken for the all-time lead.
What’s Next
After a four-game home stand, Georgia will hit the road for its last full weekend on the road during the regular season. On Oct. 17, the Bulldogs will face Mississippi State for a 8 p.m. ET start and on Sunday, Georgia will head to Oxford for a 2 p.m. ET contest with Ole Miss.
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