SEC Champion Georgia Opens NCAA Tournament Against Liberty Friday

(4) Georgia (11-4-5, 4-3-3 SEC) vs. Liberty (16-2-1, 5-2-1 CUSA)
Date: Friday, Nov. 10
Time: 4 p.m. EST
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Turner Soccer Complex (1,682)

MEDIA INFORMATION
TV / Stream: ESPN+ (Kaleb Frady, PxP / Tatum Hodge, Analyst) ($)
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.

TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased for $10 each, with all tickets being general admission. The Turner Soccer Complex will open one hour prior to the start of the match. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the UGA Ticket Office. All tickets must be purchased prior to the match, with no on-site sales available. All University of Georgia students can get free admission to the match by presenting a valid UGA ID at the Turner Soccer Complex gate.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: Georgia leads 1-0-0
In Athens: Georgia leads 1-0-0
Last Meeting: Georgia – W, 8-0 (Sept. 26, 2003 – Athens, Ga.)
Current Streak: W1
GF / GA: 8 / 0

QUICK KICKS
Dance, Dance
Georgia opens its second-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance with a first-round matchup against Conference USA champion Liberty Friday in Athens. The SEC Champion Bulldogs received a No. 4 seed in the Clemson Regional, the second-highest tournament seed in program history, following a No. 3 seed earned by the 2007 team. Additionally, Georgia is playing in consecutive NCAA Tournaments for the first time since three straight appearances from 2007-09. Friday's match is the fifth all-time held in Athens and second-consecutive home tourney opener at the Turner Soccer Complex, following last season's 2-0 win over Samford. If Georgia advances, it will face the winner of Friday's Iowa-Bucknell matchup next weekend in the Second Round. Top-seeded Clemson will host the match if it defeats Radford in the First Round.

Relighting the Flames
Georgia and Liberty are facing off for the only the second time in program history, with the Bulldogs prevailing, 8-0, in the previous meeting in 2003. In the meeting in Athens, Bulldog forward Jessica Winton set a program record with four goals and eight points, which has been matched twice by Marion Crowder (College of Charleston, 2013) and Mollie Belisle (Coastal Carolina, 2017). The Bulldogs' 21 points in the meeting were the fifth-most in program history. Liberty finished the 2023 season with a 16-2-1 record (5-2-1 in CUSA play), topping New Mexico State in the conference tournament final last Friday. The Flames have had little trouble playing away from Lynchburg, finishing 10-0-1 in road and neutral matches this season.

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.

Dawg Bites

Sunday's championship victory was the 300th win in program history. Also, the Bulldogs' SEC Tournament run tied this year's team with the 2007 team for most postseason victories in a season (3).
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.
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.
Junior defender Jessie Dunn remains the iron woman among Georgia field players, tallying 90 minutes in 17 matches this season. Dunn has played a full 90 in 25 of her last 29 matches, including 110 against Texas A&M, and now leads the team in consecutive starts at 28 following Ellie Gilbert's season-ending knee injury against Tennessee.
With the Texas A&M win, Georgia improved to 8-1 this season when scoring twice, while the Arkansas win brought it to 8-2 in one-score matches.
Georgia holds a 7-1 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 to the Second Round, it will take on the winner of Friday's Iowa-Bucknell match. The meeting between the Hawkeyes and Bison will kick off at 7 p.m. EST in Iowa City. If No. 1 seed Clemson defeats Radford on Friday evening, then Georgia would play its matches next weekend in Clemson.

SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Admission: Tickets can be purchased for $10 each, with all tickets being general admission. The Turner Soccer Complex will open one hour prior to the beginning of the match. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the UGA Ticket Office. All tickets must be purchased prior to the match, with no on-site sales available. All University of Georgia students can get free admission to the match by presenting a valid UGA ID at the complex gate.
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 UGA Livestock Arena on Milledge Ave. 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.

SEC Champion Georgia Opens NCAA Tournament Against Liberty Friday

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Players Mentioned

Croix Bethune

Jordan Brown

Jessie Dunn

Ellie Gilbert

Mallie McKenzie

Nicole Vernis

Hannah White