Georgia Closes Regular Season Against Auburn

RV Georgia (8-4-4, 4-3-2 SEC) vs. Auburn (7-6-4, 3-4-2 SEC)
Date: Thursday, Oct. 26
Time: 6 p.m. EDT
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Turner Soccer Complex (1,682)

MEDIA INFORMATION
TV / Stream: SEC Network+ (Jeff Dantzler, PxP / Tatum Hodge, Analyst)
Live Stats: GeorgiaDogs.com
X: @UGASoccer
Instagram: @UGASoccer

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

INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: Auburn leads 13-11-3
In Athens: Auburn leads 6-4-1
In Auburn: Tied 5-5-2
Neutral: Tied 2-2-0
Last Meeting: Auburn – W, 3-0 (Sept. 17, 2021 – Auburn, Ala.)
Current Streak: L6
GF / GA: 31 / 32

QUICK KICKS
Decision Day
SEC East champion Georgia closes its 2023 regular season against rival Auburn on Thursday night at the Turner Soccer Complex. This is the 28th all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and Tigers, with Auburn holding a 13-11-3 advantage in the series. Georgia is looking to snap a six-match losing streak to Auburn, last earning a win on the road in 2015. After the Bulldogs dominated the early portion of the series, the Tigers have prevailed in 10 of the last 14 meetings. Georgia's only other win in the series came at the 2010 SEC Tournament against an Auburn team that featured head coach Keidane McAlpine and assistant coach Sammy Towne as members of the Tiger staff. Additionally, Georgia is looking for its first home win against Auburn since a 3-2 OT victory on Oct. 20, 2006.

Tiger Ties
Georgia head coach Keidane McAlpine served as an assistant for Auburn coach Karen Hoppa for six seasons (2006-11), helping the Tigers win the SEC Tournament in his final season on the plains. McAlpine and Hoppa have faced off twice before in 2016, with McAlpine's Trojans winning both meetings, including a quarterfinal matchup leading to USC's national championship. Assistant coach Sammy Towne played four seasons under Hoppa (2007-10), earning All-SEC honors and the team captaincy. Following her playing career, she served as a student assistant coach in 2011 and director of operations from 2016-17.

Bouncing Back
Georgia looks to rebound from a difficult 4-0 loss at South Carolina last Sunday. The Gamecocks came out firing, converting a corner kick goal in the first three minutes of play. While the Bulldogs earned four corner kicks during the match, all three shots on goal were stifled by outstanding play from SC goalkeeper Heather Hinz. The four goals were the most allowed by the Bulldogs in over two seasons and the most given up by a team in the McAlpine era.

Beasts of the East
With its win over Kentucky, Georgia clinched its first SEC East championship in program history, earning a top-two bye in the SEC Tournament and guaranteeing an opponent on short rest in Pensacola. In addition to their SEC exploits, the Bulldogs were ranked No. 16 in the NCAA Tournament committee's Top 16 reveal Thursday evening.

Dawgs > Cats
Georgia needed only one goal to earn its first division title against Kentucky on Oct. 19. Reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Week Summer Denigan scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season against her home-state team, depositing a Hannah White assist in the 21st minute. The Bulldogs' defense put up one of its top performances of the season, allowing only seven shots (two SOG), while goalkeeper Jordan Brown made a critical late save and caught a last-second corner kick.

Freshman Phenoms
Three members of the Georgia freshmen class were recognized by Top Drawer Soccer on its 2023 midseason top-100 list. Defender Kiera Staude was ranked No. 10 overall, the highest of any SEC first-year player. Staude has started all 13 matches on the backline, helping the Bulldogs post five shutouts. Midfielder Christian Brathwaite slotted at No. 70, while fellow midfielder Devon Winters snuck in at No. 94.

Dawg Bites

Georgia remained unranked in this week's United Soccer Coaches and Top Drawer Soccer polls, but received nine votes to be the first team out of the poll. In the NCAA RPI rankings, Georgia moved up to 15th and ranks second among SEC schools. Nine 2023 opponents currently rank in the top 50.
Junior defender Jessie Dunn remains the iron woman among Georgia field players, tallying 90 minutes in 13 matches this season. Dunn has played a full 90 in 21 of her last 25 matches and now leads the team in consecutive starts at 24 following Ellie Gilbert's season-ending knee injury against Tennessee.
With the Tennessee win, Georgia improved to 6-1 this season when scoring twice, while the Kentucky victory improved it to 6-2 in one-score matches. Notably, the Bulldogs have matched or been outshot by its opponent in each of its three of its four SEC victories.
Through 16 matches, 11 different Bulldogs have scored a goal. Last year, the team tied a program record with 16 different scorers.
Graduate midfielder Mallie McKenzie is now tied for fourth in program history with 21 assists, putting her three behind all-time leader Suzannah Weathersbee (24). She is also third all-time in appearances with 91 matches, putting her on pace to break former teammate Abby Boyan's program record of 93.
Goalkeeper Jordan Brown has now entered the program's top 10 in saves, shutouts, starts, and minutes.

Up Next
Georgia opens the 2023 SEC Soccer Tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 31 against one of the winners of Sunday's First Round matches. Each game of the tournament will air live on SEC Network.

SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Promotions: Thursday's match is Kick or Treat at the Turner Soccer Complex. All spectators of fifth grade age or younger will receive a bag of Halloween candy.
Free Admission: All matches at Turner Soccer Complex are free. No tickets are required for admission.
Parking: Due to construction at the Turner Soccer Complex, parking is first-come, first-serve and carpooling is encouraged. Overflow crowds will park at the Park & Ride (E23) lot on College Station Road with non-stop shuttle service throughout the match.
Entrance: Spectators will only be able to enter the Turner Soccer Complex on the first base side of Jack Turner Stadium. Gates will open one hour prior to kickoff.
Clear Bags: The UGA Clear Bag policy will be in effect for all home matches.
Prohibited Items: Umbrellas and outside noise makers are not permitted at Turner Soccer Complex.
Sustainability: Turner Soccer Complex is on a journey to become a zero-waste facility for the 2023 season.
Concessions: Concessions will be available via cashless/contactless payment.
Merchandise: The UGA Bookstore will be selling merchandise on site.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Abby Boyan

Christian Brathwaite

Jordan Brown

Summer Denigan

Jessie Dunn

Ellie Gilbert

Mallie McKenzie

Kiera Staude

Hannah White

Devon Winters