Georgia Heads to Atlanta to Face Georgia State Thursday

Georgia (2-2-0, 0-0-0 SEC) at Georgia State (2-0-2, 0-0-0 SBC)
Date: Thursday, Sept. 1
Time: 7 p.m. EDT
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Site: Georgia State Soccer Complex

MEDIA INFORMATION
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: GeorgiaDogs.com
Twitter: @UGASoccer
Instagram: @UGASoccer

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

QUICK KICKS
Double Dip in Atlanta
Georgia returns to the road for a pair of games this week in the Atlanta area, beginning with Georgia State on Thursday and followed by Kennesaw State on Sunday. Georgia State and Kennesaw State played to a 2-2 tie last Sunday in Kennesaw. Georgia State is the most-played non-conference opponent in program history with this being the 19th all-time meeting. The Panthers were also the opponent in Georgia's first-ever match, a 4-0 Bulldog win on Sept. 3, 1995. Georgia is looking to increase its 34-1-3 all-time record against in-state opponents.

Back on Track
Following a pair of losses, Georgia returned to the win column last Sunday with a 4-0 victory over College of Charleston. Tori Penn opened the scoring with a 10th-minute goal, followed by Abby Boyan scoring in a muddled scene in front of the box. Following two straight matches without a shot, Boyan rebounded with a three-point outing, having also assisted Penn on her score.

In the second half, Faith Ferrer finished off a terrific pass from Millie Filson, while Taylor Rish scored off a rebounded attempt by Cecily Stoute. For the day, the Bulldogs outshot the Cougars, 32-5, with a 14-2 advantage in shots on goal. Graduate Ruby Hellstrom made her regular season debut for the Bulldogs, while junior Alexis Parker earned her first career start.

Fast Starts for Penn
Junior forward Tori Penn has established herself a starter this season and has made a habit of getting on the board quickly. After scoring Georgia's lone goal early in an exhibition victory over Furman, Penn opened the season with an 8th-minute goal against Georgia Southern. She echoed that feat in Sunday's match against College of Charleston, scoring in the 10th minute after crossing her Cougar defender in the box.

Murguia Nears History
With her 28th-minute goal against FSU, graduate forward Dani Murguia notched her second score of the season and 15th of her career. Murguia also reached 50 points in her career, moving closer to the top 10 in program history. Last season, she tied Suzannah Weathersbee's single-season assist record with 11, knocking her career total up to 20. Murguia now sits only four behind Weathersbee for the program career record (24) and will look to set a new top mark during the season.

Beardsley and Backline Coming Up Big
Despite only having 45 minutes of previous experience under her belt, sophomore goalkeeper Liz Beardsley has impressed in her first four career starts. After posting a shutout against Georgia Southern, Beardsley posted a solid performance against No. 1 Florida State, tallying six saves, including an outstanding leaping punch-save in the second half. She then only allowed one goal against Wake Forest before notching another shutout against College of Charleston.

The Georgia backline has solidified with the same four players starting in every match so far. The Bulldog defenders have only allowed an average of 7.8 shots per game and 11 total corner kicks.

Dawgs Fight Hard Against Seminoles
Georgia fell to No. 1 Florida State, 3-1, on Aug. 21 before 1,883 spectators at the Turner Soccer Complex. The match marked the first time a top-ranked team had traveled to Athens, as well as the first goal scored by the Bulldogs against a No. 1 side. Trailing 2-0 in the first half, graduate forward Dani Murguia took advantage of a perfect pass from junior defender Madison Haugen to cut the deficit in half. The Bulldogs also held the top-ranked Seminoles scoreless in the second half.

Loaded with Experience
Thanks to the NCAA's COVID-era eligibility changes, Georgia is equipped this season with four graduate players. Abby Boyan, Cecily Stoute, and Dani Murguia all return for their fifth seasons in Athens, with the trio each earning their bachelor's degree this year. They are joined by Washington transfer Ruby Hellstrom, who scored eight goals in 37 career starts for the Huskies.

New Friends on the Pitch
Even with 17 returning letterwinners, this year's squad features a large influx of talent with 12 newcomers: five transfers and seven freshmen. On the transfer part, Hellstrom is joined by fellow Pac-12 student-athlete Dasia Torbert, who returned home to Georgia following two seasons at UCLA. Torbert has previously played for the U.S. U18 Women's National Team and was the No. 12 recruit in the class of 2020. The Bulldogs also welcome sophomores Alyssa Stadeker (Florida State) and Joyelle Washington (Wisconsin), along with redshirt junior Nicole Vernis (Florida), who will sit out the season due to SEC transfer regulations.

A Bulldog Legacy
Junior midfielder Dasia Torbert enters her first season at Georgia as the first legacy player in program history. Her mother, Ali Comis Bose, was a member of the inaugural four-year class that played from 1995-98, reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 in her senior season. Torbert's father, Regan, also lettered for the football team in 2000.

Up Next
Georgia remains in-state for a trip to Kennesaw State on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. The match will stream live on ESPN+.

Georgia Heads to Atlanta to Face Georgia State Thursday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Liz Beardsley

Abby Boyan

Faith Ferrer

Millie Filson

Madison Haugen

Ruby Hellstrom

Dani Murguia

Alexis Parker

Tori Penn

Taylor Rish

Alyssa Stadeker

Cecily Stoute

Dasia Torbert

Nicole Vernis

Joyelle Washington

University of Georgia Athletics