Georgia Returns Home to Face North Florida

Georgia (4-2-0, 0-0-0 SEC) vs. North Florida (1-2-0, 0-0-0 ASUN)
Date: Thursday, Sept. 8
Time: 6 p.m. EDT
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Turner Soccer Complex (1,682)

MEDIA INFORMATION
Live Stream: SEC Network+ (Jeff Dantzler, PxP / Tatum Hodge, Analyst)
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
Touchdown in Kennesaw
Georgia posted one of its most dominant performances in program history last Sunday with a 7-0 win at Kennesaw State. The Bulldogs scored five goals in the first half, the 10th time in program history with 5+ goals in a half and the third-most in a first half. In other record-breaking notes, it tied for the most road goals and road margin of victory in a single match, as well as tying for the most individual goal scorers in a single match (Jacksonville, Oct. 6, 1996). With the win, Georgia improved to 37-1-3 all-time against in-state opponents.

Career Night for McKenzie
After coming off the bench for two consecutive matches, Mallie McKenzie posted a career-best four points at Kennesaw State. McKenzie opened the Bulldogs' scoring in the sixth minute off an assist from Madison Haugen. She then tied her career high with two assists: first, a cross to Joyelle Washington, followed by a service to Dani Murguia.

Newcomers Breaking Out
Transfers Joyelle Washington, Dasia Torbert, Alyssa Stadeker, and Ruby Hellstrom turned in strong weekends for Georgia, each posting their first goals as Bulldogs. Washington scored against both Georgia State and Kennesaw State, while also picking up an assist against GSU in setting up Stadeker for her first career score. Torbert tallied her first assist of the season at GSU before scoring for the first time at Kennesaw, while Hellstrom capitalized on a keeper error to earn her first goal of the season at KSU.

Haugen Helping Out
Despite moving to the backline this season, Madison Haugen has established herself as Georgia's top assister this season. Haugen has already tallied four assists in the first six games, nearly matching the five she had last season. Currently, she is tied for fourth in the SEC and 12th nationally in assists.

Dawgs' Defense Coming Up Big
Despite only having 45 minutes of previous experience under her belt, sophomore goalkeeper Liz Beardsley has impressed in her first six 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 shutouts against College of Charleston, Georgia State, and Kennesaw State. 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 6.7 shots per game and 14 total corner kicks, while securing three consecutive shutouts for the first time since 2014.

Graduates Nearing 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. With an assist Thursday against Georgia State, Murguia now sits only three behind Weathersbee for the program career record (24) and will look to set a new top mark during the season.

Fellow graduates Abby Boyan and Cecily Stoute are also nearing the top of the program record books. Boyan has now appeared and started in 77 matches, putting her on pace to eventually break the records held by Natalie Farley (88 appearances) and Carrie Patterson (87 starts). She is also now sixth all-time in assists (16) and eighth in shots (168). Murguia (76 appearances) and Stoute (74 apps/starts) are also in line to eventually reach the top of the list as well.

Faulconer's Connections
North Florida head coach Eric Faulconer shares a connection to the Georgia soccer program. Prior to being named head coach in 2019, Faulconer served for two seasons under then-head coach Robin Confer. Confer was the longest-tenured assistant coach in Bulldog history (2005-13), as well as the current director of operations for the Georgia softball program.

First Impressions
North Florida is the only debut opponent on Georgia's 2022 schedule with Thursday marking the first-ever meeting between the schools. In the past three seasons, Georgia is 3-1-1 in first meetings with wins over Binghamton (2019), Campbell (2021), and Presbyterian (2021).

Taming the Panthers
Georgia moved back over .500 with its most complete performance of the season, a 3-0 win at Georgia State on Sept. 1. The Bulldogs controlled possession from the opening moments on, eventually capitalizing with two goals in a 37-second span from Joyelle Washington and Madison Haugen. In the second half, Alyssa Stadeker extended the lead with her first career goal. Georgia's defense continued its strong play, allowing only one corner and two shots, the fewest for a Georgia opponent since Binghamton attempted one on Aug. 25, 2019.

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. 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 closes non-conference play with a Senior Day matchup against USF on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. on SEC Network+.

SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Admission to Turner Soccer Complex is free with clear bag policy in effect. The first 150 spectators at Turner will receive free scrunchies in celebration of "Throwback Thursday."

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Players Mentioned

Liz Beardsley

Abby Boyan

Madison Haugen

Ruby Hellstrom

Mallie McKenzie

Dani Murguia

Alyssa Stadeker

Cecily Stoute

Dasia Torbert

Nicole Vernis

Joyelle Washington