Thursday, November 2
Pensacola, Fla.
8:30 p.m.
University of Georgia
vs
Texas A&M
Georgia Takes on Texas A&M in SEC Semifinal Thursday
November 02, 2023 | Soccer
(2) Georgia (9-4-5, 4-3-3 SEC) vs. (6) Texas A&M (9-6-4, 4-3-3 SEC)
Date: Thursday, Nov. 2
Time: 8:30 p.m. EDT
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex (2,500)
MEDIA INFORMATION
TV / Stream: SEC Network (Mike Watts, PxP / Jill Loyden, Analyst)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
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: Texas A&M leads 7-2-0
In Athens: Texas A&M leads 2-1-0
In Bryan-College Station: Texas A&M leads 4-1-0
Neutral: Texas A&M leads 1-0-0
Last Meeting: Georgia – W, 3-0 (Sept. 16, 2022 – Bryan-College Station, Texas)
Current Streak: W1
GF / GA: 8 / 16
QUICK KICKS
Semifinal Under the Lights
SEC East champion Georgia makes its second-consecutive appearance in the SEC Tournament semifinals as it faces Texas A&M on Thursday evening. This is the 10th semis appearance in program history, with the Bulldogs carrying a 3-6 record in the round. Additionally, Georgia has reached the semis in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1996-97. With a victory, Georgia will reach the SEC Championship for the third time in program history and first since 2008.
Thursday's match is the 10th all-time meeting between Georgia and Texas A&M, with the Aggies holding a 7-2 record in the series. Thursday is the second SEC Tournament matchup between the teams, with Texas A&M prevailing, 3-0, in the 2014 quarterfinals. Last season, the Bulldogs earned a hard-fought 3-2 win in College Station in their SEC opener as midfielder Dasia Torbert scored the winning goal and assisted on another to pull out the victory. Georgia head coach Keidane McAlpine is 2-0-1 all-time against A&M, winning a pair of NCAA Tournament matches while at USC, including an overtime win in his 2016 national championship season.
Comeback Against Cats
Georgia advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 comeback victory over Kentucky in Tuesday's semifinal, overcoming SEC Co-Freshman Summer Denigan's red card in the third minute of play and a subsequent penalty make. In the 63rd minute, midfielder Croix Bethune scored her second goal of the season off a beautiful cross from teammate Mallie McKenzie. Later, in the 81st minute, McKenzie puts the Bulldogs ahead with a goal off an assist from Nicole Vernis.
McKenzie's Milestone
Graduate midfielder Mallie McKenzie helped propel Georgia into the SEC semifinal with a three-point effort against Kentucky. McKenzie's assist to Croix Bethune on her equalizer was the 22nd of her career, moving her into fourth all-time in program history and just two behind program leader Suzannah Weathersbee at 22. Also, McKenzie will make history with her 94th career appearance in a Bulldog uniform against Texas A&M, surpassing former teammate Abby Boyan for the program record.
Accolades Aplenty
In the SEC postseason honors released Sunday, Georgia received numerous league honors, including three for Denigan. The Union, Kentucky native shared the Co-Freshman of the Year Award with Florida's Megan Hinnenkamp, along with placements on the Second Team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman Team. The honor made Denigan the first Freshman of the Year since Laura Eddy in 2009. Graduate midfielder Croix Bethune was also named to the Second Team All-SEC, giving the program five consecutive seasons with an all-conference performer, the longest streak since 2005-11. Freshman defender Kiera Staude joined Denigan on the All-Freshman Team after playing 1,296 minutes this season on the Bulldog backline.
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.
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 on Oct. 19.
Dawg Bites
Date: Thursday, Nov. 2
Time: 8:30 p.m. EDT
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex (2,500)
MEDIA INFORMATION
TV / Stream: SEC Network (Mike Watts, PxP / Jill Loyden, Analyst)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
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: Texas A&M leads 7-2-0
In Athens: Texas A&M leads 2-1-0
In Bryan-College Station: Texas A&M leads 4-1-0
Neutral: Texas A&M leads 1-0-0
Last Meeting: Georgia – W, 3-0 (Sept. 16, 2022 – Bryan-College Station, Texas)
Current Streak: W1
GF / GA: 8 / 16
QUICK KICKS
Semifinal Under the Lights
SEC East champion Georgia makes its second-consecutive appearance in the SEC Tournament semifinals as it faces Texas A&M on Thursday evening. This is the 10th semis appearance in program history, with the Bulldogs carrying a 3-6 record in the round. Additionally, Georgia has reached the semis in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1996-97. With a victory, Georgia will reach the SEC Championship for the third time in program history and first since 2008.
Thursday's match is the 10th all-time meeting between Georgia and Texas A&M, with the Aggies holding a 7-2 record in the series. Thursday is the second SEC Tournament matchup between the teams, with Texas A&M prevailing, 3-0, in the 2014 quarterfinals. Last season, the Bulldogs earned a hard-fought 3-2 win in College Station in their SEC opener as midfielder Dasia Torbert scored the winning goal and assisted on another to pull out the victory. Georgia head coach Keidane McAlpine is 2-0-1 all-time against A&M, winning a pair of NCAA Tournament matches while at USC, including an overtime win in his 2016 national championship season.
Comeback Against Cats
Georgia advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 comeback victory over Kentucky in Tuesday's semifinal, overcoming SEC Co-Freshman Summer Denigan's red card in the third minute of play and a subsequent penalty make. In the 63rd minute, midfielder Croix Bethune scored her second goal of the season off a beautiful cross from teammate Mallie McKenzie. Later, in the 81st minute, McKenzie puts the Bulldogs ahead with a goal off an assist from Nicole Vernis.
McKenzie's Milestone
Graduate midfielder Mallie McKenzie helped propel Georgia into the SEC semifinal with a three-point effort against Kentucky. McKenzie's assist to Croix Bethune on her equalizer was the 22nd of her career, moving her into fourth all-time in program history and just two behind program leader Suzannah Weathersbee at 22. Also, McKenzie will make history with her 94th career appearance in a Bulldog uniform against Texas A&M, surpassing former teammate Abby Boyan for the program record.
Accolades Aplenty
In the SEC postseason honors released Sunday, Georgia received numerous league honors, including three for Denigan. The Union, Kentucky native shared the Co-Freshman of the Year Award with Florida's Megan Hinnenkamp, along with placements on the Second Team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman Team. The honor made Denigan the first Freshman of the Year since Laura Eddy in 2009. Graduate midfielder Croix Bethune was also named to the Second Team All-SEC, giving the program five consecutive seasons with an all-conference performer, the longest streak since 2005-11. Freshman defender Kiera Staude joined Denigan on the All-Freshman Team after playing 1,296 minutes this season on the Bulldog backline.
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.
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 on Oct. 19.
Dawg Bites
- SEC Co-Freshman of the Year Summer Denigan will not play in Thursday's match after receiving a red card in the third minute against Kentucky. Denigan was the first Bulldog to receive a red card since Cecily Stoute against Florida on Oct. 21, 2021.
- Georgia's win over Kentucky was its first with 10 players since a 1-0 win over South Carolina on Sept. 28, 2014. In that match, Marion Crowder was booked in the 66th minute with the Bulldogs leading at the time.
- Georgia remained unranked in last week's United Soccer Coaches and Top Drawer Soccer polls, but received five votes to be 27th overall in the rankings. In the NCAA RPI rankings, Georgia moved down to 20th and ranks third among SEC schools. 10 2023 opponents currently rank in the top 50.
- Junior defender Jessie Dunn remains the iron woman among Georgia field players, tallying 90 minutes in 15 matches this season. Dunn has played a full 90 in 23 of her last 27 matches and now leads the team in consecutive starts at 26 following Ellie Gilbert's season-ending knee injury against Tennessee.
- With the Kentucky win, Georgia improved to 7-1 this season when scoring twice and to 7-2 in one-score matches.
- Georgia holds a 6-1 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).
- Through 18 matches, 11 different Bulldogs have scored a goal. Last year, the team tied a program record with 16 different scorers.
- 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).
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ SoccerGeorgia Soccer vs Florida Post-Game Interview
Friday, September 26
Georgia Soccer vs. Kentucky Coach & Players Interview
Thursday, September 18
Georgia Soccer vs Texas A&M Post Game Video Recap
Saturday, September 13
Georgia Soccer: Dawg Days Episode 2
Thursday, September 11
