Georgia Opens Regular Season with 4-0 Win over Georgia Southern

Thursday, August 18

Athens, Ga.

6 p.m.

University of Georgia

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Georgia Southern

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Ga. Southern

Georgia

Georgia Opens Regular Season with 4-0 Win over Georgia Southern

August 18, 2022 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score

ATHENS, Ga. – Fueled by four goals, including three headers, the University of Georgia soccer team opened the 2022 season with a 4-0 win over Georgia Southern before 1,238 spectators at the Turner Soccer Complex. This win marked the first in the tenure of head coach Keidane McAlpine.

Three of the four Georgia (1-0-0) goals were scored off the heads of junior forward Tori Penn, graduate forward Dani Murguia, and sophomore midfielder Ellie Gilbert. Junior defender Taylor Rish tallied the final goal of the match, the first of her career.

"I'd have to say Mallie McKenzie was exceptional in that first half, getting in and starting well," McAlpine said following the match. "She set the tone with the runs that she made just getting in and that early service getting us started. I thought, in the second half, both outside backs were, in particular, very good at getting into the attack and making it difficult for them to get out. Those three were absolutely exceptional."

The Bulldogs outshot the Eagles (0-1-0) by a 29-3 margin, highlighted by a 13-1 advantage in shots on goal. McKenzie and junior defender Madison Haugen led Georgia with four shots apiece on the evening.

In the net, sophomore goalkeeper Liz Beardsley posted one save in a full 90 minutes of play, earning her first career victory.

The Bulldogs got on the board within the first 10 minutes of play with a header from Penn in the eighth minute. A pass from McKenzie on the end line connected with Penn's head to kickstart the scoring for Georgia. The Bulldogs added a second goal on the board in the 43rd minute as an assist from Faith Ferrer on the 20-yard line was sent to the back of the net off the head of Murguia.

"I'm really excited to see how we can build on all the new tactics we've been building," Murguia said following the match. "It's definitely still new to us, and we've gotten better at it. As we continue practicing, it gets better and better. I think as the season progresses it will definitely get better, so I'm excited to see how that unfolds."

A third scoring header from Gilbert inside the box came in the 55th minute off a corner kick from graduate midfielder Abby Boyan. Haugen battled around a defender in the 82nd minute to send a crossed ball to Rish, who was positioned in front of the goal to conclude the scoring.

Georgia will look to continue the momentum into a matchup against No. 1 Florida State on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. at the Turner Soccer Complex. Admission is free for spectators and the match will be aired live on ESPNU.

For complete information on Georgia soccer, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGASoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.