Georgia Faces Iowa in NCAA Second Round Friday

Friday, November 17

Clemson, S.C.

2 p.m.

University of Georgia

Iowa

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November 16, 2023 | Soccer

Match Notes

(4) Georgia (12-4-5, 4-3-3 SEC) vs. (5) Iowa (13-4-4, 3-4-3 Big Ten)
Date: Friday, Nov. 17
Time: 2 p.m. EST
Location: Clemson, S.C.
Site: Historic Riggs Field (6,500)

MEDIA INFORMATION
TV / Stream: ESPN+ (William Qualkinbush, PxP / Kevin Kennedy, Analyst) [Paid subscription is required for viewing]
Live Stats: NCAA.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: First Meeting

QUICK KICKS
Still Dancing
Fourth-seeded Georgia continues its NCAA Tournament journey with a second-round matchup against fifth-seeded Iowa Friday in Clemson. Friday's match will mark the first-ever meeting between Georgia and Iowa, as well as the Bulldogs' first NCAA Tournament match against a Big Ten opponent. The Hawkeyes earned the conference's automatic berth in the tournament with its second conference tournament title in program history, defeating No. 20 Michigan State, No. 5 Penn State, and No. 12 Wisconsin on its path. The teams shared one common opponent in 2023, with each side playing Minnesota to a scoreless draw. This is the fourth time Georgia has played a neutral fixture in the NCAA Tournament, with the Bulldogs unbeaten in the previous three.

Finishing the Flames
Georgia advanced to the second round for a second-consecutive season with a 2-1 win over Liberty last Friday at the Turner Soccer Complex. After graduate forward Hannah White opened the scoring in the second half, the Flames equalized in the 71st minute before freshman defender Kiera Staude won the match with her first career goal in the 85th minute. The Dawgs tallied season highs in shots (29) and shots on goal (11), while the Flames were efficient with all four shots finishing on frame. Georgia is now 4-1 all-time in NCAA matches played in Athens and 9-2 in first round contests.

Champions at Last
After making history with its first-ever SEC East championship, the University of Georgia continued rewriting the record books with the first SEC Tournament title in program history, topping Arkansas, 1-0, Sunday in Pensacola. In the sixth minute, Mallie McKenzie sent a pass into the six intended for Hannah White, but an Arkansas defender knocked the ball in for an own goal. Both of Georgia's goals this season against Arkansas came via own goals. Despite the Razorbacks tallying 18 shots, goalkeeper Jordan Brown hauled in seven saves, including a flying stop late in the first half. Arkansas earned a free kick in the final minute, but Brown made one final stop to clinch the title in the Bulldogs' fourth final appearance. Midfielder Croix Bethune was named Tournament MVP for scoring two goals and assisting on another, while Brown, McKenzie, and White received All-Tournament honors.

A Stout Schedule
Georgia has faced one of the nation's toughest schedules in 2023, beginning with a road match against No. 1 UCLA, followed by contests with ranked UCF, Clemson, Alabama, Arkansas, and Kentucky squads. Georgia is also the only Power 5 program in the country to face an opponent from each of the other four leagues. The schedule currently rates as the second-toughest in the nation with an opponent winning percentage of .646.

Dawg Bites

The Liberty win extended Georgia's unbeaten streak to five in a row, following a seven-match streak earlier in the season. This is the second-consecutive season with two unbeaten streaks of five or more matches.
The SEC Championship victory was the 300th win in program history. Also, this year's team has eclipsed the 2007 team for most postseason wins in a season (4).
Nicole Vernis has converted three penalty kicks this season, the most for a Bulldog since Alexa Newfield went 5-for-5 in the 2011 season.
Junior defender Jessie Dunn remains the iron woman among Georgia field players, tallying 90 minutes in 18 matches this season. Dunn has played a full 90 in 26 of her last 30 matches, including 110 against Texas A&M, and now leads the team in consecutive starts at 29 following Ellie Gilbert's season-ending knee injury against Tennessee.
With the Liberty win, Georgia improved to 9-1 this season when scoring twice, while the win brought it to 9-2 in one-score matches.
Georgia holds an 8-1 record this season when leading at the half. In all five of the Bulldogs' ties, the score was knotted at the half (1-1-5).
Including the SEC Championship, Georgia has been outshot in four of its seven SEC victories this season.
Goalkeeper Jordan Brown has now entered the program's top 10 in saves, shutouts, starts, and minutes, and currently has the lowest GAA in program history (0.91).

Up Next
If Georgia advances, it will face the winner of the Clemson-Columbia match in a Third Round contest on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. at Riggs Field.