University of Georgia Athletics
Thursday, August 17
Los Angeles, Calif.
10 p.m.
University of Georgia
at
UCLA
Georgia Opens Season at No. 1 UCLA
August 17, 2023 | Soccer
Georgia (0-0-0, 0-0-0 SEC) at No. 1 UCLA (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Pac-12)
Date: Thursday, Aug. 17
Time: 10 p.m. EDT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Site: Wallis Annenberg Stadium (2,145)
MEDIA INFORMATION
TV / Live Stream: Pac-12 Network
Live Audio: UCLABruins.com
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.
QUICK KICKS
Out West to Face the Best
Georgia opens its 29th season of competition with a road match against top-ranked and defending NCAA champion UCLA. The Bulldogs are looking for their fourth-consecutive season-opener win and their first on the road since defeating Furman, 3-1, on Aug. 19, 2011. Georgia is also seeking its first-ever victory over a No. 1 team, having fallen in its previous three attempts, including a 3-1 loss to Florida State last season. Overall, the Bulldogs are 3-16-0 all-time against top-five teams and 8-53-2 against top-10 programs. For head coach Keidane McAlpine, this is his 12th matchup against the Bruins, holding a 1-7-3 record in prior meetings.
Year Two for McAlpine
McAlpine returns for his second season in Athens, following an outstanding debut campaign which saw Georgia reach the SEC semifinals and host an NCAA Tournament match for the first time since 2007. The 2023 Bulldogs return six starters and 14 letterwinners from last year's team, including All-Region defender Madison Haugen and SEC All-Tournament goalkeeper Jordan Brown. McAlpine himself stands only five wins away from 200 in his career.
Top Dawg
Georgia bolstered its lineup this offseason with the addition of graduate midfielder Croix Bethune from USC. The Alpharetta native has been named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Team and Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year each of the past two seasons, along with being named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy in 2011. Bethune left the Trojans after tallying 27 career goals and 24 assists, both top-10 figures in program history. On Wednesday, Top Drawer Soccer named Bethune the No. 1 collegiate player in the country for the second-consecutive preseason.
Portal Pick-Ups
Bethune was one of five transfers added to the roster by McAlpine. She was joined by USC teammate Hannah White, who scored five career goals and is the step-sister of Georgia senior forward Tori Penn. Midfielders Aly Akers (Notre Dame) and Summer Denigan (Florida State) add considerable depth to the position group, while fellow midfielder Nicole Vernis finally joins the lineup after sitting out last season following a transfer from Florida. The Bulldogs' transfer class was named third in the nation by the WoSo Independent.
A Stout Schedule
Georgia will face one of the nation's toughest schedules in 2023, beginning with the road matches against No. 1 UCLA and No. 22 USC, followed by a home opener with No. 24 UCF. The Bulldogs will face 15 Power 5 opponents, including preseason-ranked Clemson, Alabama, Arkansas, and South Carolina. WoSo Independent rated the schedule as the 10th-hardest nationally.
Preseason Plaudits
Bethune and senior defender Madison Haugen were both named to the United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch List after earning All-District honors in 2022. The pair was joined by teammates White, Vernis, Brown, Ellie Gilbert, and Morgan Hart on the SEC Preseason Watch List, the most of any school in the conference. The Bulldogs were also picked to finish fourth in the SEC coaches poll, which would match the program's best finish since tying for second in 2008.
Up Next
Georgia remains in Los Angeles to face No. 22 USC on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 3 p.m. EST.
Date: Thursday, Aug. 17
Time: 10 p.m. EDT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Site: Wallis Annenberg Stadium (2,145)
MEDIA INFORMATION
TV / Live Stream: Pac-12 Network
Live Audio: UCLABruins.com
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.
QUICK KICKS
Out West to Face the Best
Georgia opens its 29th season of competition with a road match against top-ranked and defending NCAA champion UCLA. The Bulldogs are looking for their fourth-consecutive season-opener win and their first on the road since defeating Furman, 3-1, on Aug. 19, 2011. Georgia is also seeking its first-ever victory over a No. 1 team, having fallen in its previous three attempts, including a 3-1 loss to Florida State last season. Overall, the Bulldogs are 3-16-0 all-time against top-five teams and 8-53-2 against top-10 programs. For head coach Keidane McAlpine, this is his 12th matchup against the Bruins, holding a 1-7-3 record in prior meetings.
Year Two for McAlpine
McAlpine returns for his second season in Athens, following an outstanding debut campaign which saw Georgia reach the SEC semifinals and host an NCAA Tournament match for the first time since 2007. The 2023 Bulldogs return six starters and 14 letterwinners from last year's team, including All-Region defender Madison Haugen and SEC All-Tournament goalkeeper Jordan Brown. McAlpine himself stands only five wins away from 200 in his career.
Top Dawg
Georgia bolstered its lineup this offseason with the addition of graduate midfielder Croix Bethune from USC. The Alpharetta native has been named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Team and Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year each of the past two seasons, along with being named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy in 2011. Bethune left the Trojans after tallying 27 career goals and 24 assists, both top-10 figures in program history. On Wednesday, Top Drawer Soccer named Bethune the No. 1 collegiate player in the country for the second-consecutive preseason.
Portal Pick-Ups
Bethune was one of five transfers added to the roster by McAlpine. She was joined by USC teammate Hannah White, who scored five career goals and is the step-sister of Georgia senior forward Tori Penn. Midfielders Aly Akers (Notre Dame) and Summer Denigan (Florida State) add considerable depth to the position group, while fellow midfielder Nicole Vernis finally joins the lineup after sitting out last season following a transfer from Florida. The Bulldogs' transfer class was named third in the nation by the WoSo Independent.
A Stout Schedule
Georgia will face one of the nation's toughest schedules in 2023, beginning with the road matches against No. 1 UCLA and No. 22 USC, followed by a home opener with No. 24 UCF. The Bulldogs will face 15 Power 5 opponents, including preseason-ranked Clemson, Alabama, Arkansas, and South Carolina. WoSo Independent rated the schedule as the 10th-hardest nationally.
Preseason Plaudits
Bethune and senior defender Madison Haugen were both named to the United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch List after earning All-District honors in 2022. The pair was joined by teammates White, Vernis, Brown, Ellie Gilbert, and Morgan Hart on the SEC Preseason Watch List, the most of any school in the conference. The Bulldogs were also picked to finish fourth in the SEC coaches poll, which would match the program's best finish since tying for second in 2008.
Up Next
Georgia remains in Los Angeles to face No. 22 USC on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 3 p.m. EST.
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
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Midfielder
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Goalkeeper
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Midfielder
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Midfielder
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Defender
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Defender
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Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
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