University of Georgia Athletics
Denigan Thrives On Contact, Competition
September 25, 2024 | Soccer, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Summer Denigan likes being a physical, aggressive soccer player, which isn't necessarily what you would expect from the 5-foot-4 midfielder. The Georgia redshirt sophomore came by her style of play naturally thanks to growing up with two brothers.
"A lot of fights broke out, and we were told many times to take the ball outside and stop playing because somebody was going to get hurt or somebody's going to punch somebody," said a smiling Denigan, the SEC Co-Freshman of the Year last season.
Denigan's father, Michael, played collegiate soccer at Southeastern University in Florida, and he introduced his children to the game. And they all took to it quickly. Denigan said she's been kicking a soccer ball "ever since I could walk." Her mother, Robin, was a track athlete at one point, "so I kind of have good DNA and good athletes in and around my family.
"I just fell in love with soccer. I think when I was three or four, my mom put me in a dance class," she said, but it wasn't for her. She'd already found her sport.
"We grew up with a ball at our feet, playing pickup games," she said.
Her older brother, Trey, plays collegiately at Indiana Wesleyan College, while her younger brother, Brice, is still in high school. Whatever the sport or activity, the siblings competed with one another to be the best at it, she said.
"I think it definitely helped with my competitiveness, too. I love the physical part of the game. .... I grew up wrestling with my brothers, so that's what I like about the game," she said, later adding that they talk a lot of smack to one another. "Everything we do, we compete at — in a fun way."
When she was younger, Denigan said, she beat her brothers at sports and other things a lot more often than she does now.
"I did a lot more winning when I was younger, and then we all grew up, and then I stopped (growing) and they kept growing," she said with a laugh. "Now, I'm no longer the strongest and fastest, but I will do anything I can to slow them down."
Denigan's approach is clearly effective and clearly crucial for the Bulldogs. In 32 career games for Georgia over the past two seasons, Denigan has 11 goals and three assists. Last Sunday at Vanderbilt, her first-half lefty finish off a pass from Cate Hardin on the left wing, was the game's only goal. It was her fifth goal of the season, second only to Margie Detrizio's team-leading six, and Denigan is tied with Nicole Vernis for the team lead with three assists.
"That's the goal of the game, and I try to put myself in the best position possible to help my team win," Denigan said of her scoring output.
A year ago, in Denigan's first season at Georgia after transferring from Florida State, where she'd played in three games as a freshman before a season-ending injury, she shared the team lead of six goals with Vernis and Hannah White. All three are back this season, but so far only Denigan has picked up where she left off offensively. White scored twice against North Carolina for her only goals so far, while Vernis has the three assists but no goals.
Detrizio has attempted a team-high 27 shots, followed by Denigan's 24 and White's 18. The Bulldogs (5-3-2, 1-1-0 SEC) will need to be in form at both ends of the field Thursday at No. 20 Kentucky (8-1-1, 0-1-1). The Wildcats' stadium is about 70 miles from Denigan's hometown of Union, Ky., and she said a lot of friends and family members will be at the game.
Her favorite goal of her career, she said, came in a 1-0 win over Kentucky last season. "Just because it was a game-winner against my home state (school)," Denigan said.
Because of Hurricane Helene, Thursday's game has been moved up to 5 p.m. The Bulldogs beat the Wildcats twice last season, including on their run to winning the SEC tournament, and lead the all-time series 16-9-5.
Staff Writer
Summer Denigan likes being a physical, aggressive soccer player, which isn't necessarily what you would expect from the 5-foot-4 midfielder. The Georgia redshirt sophomore came by her style of play naturally thanks to growing up with two brothers.
"A lot of fights broke out, and we were told many times to take the ball outside and stop playing because somebody was going to get hurt or somebody's going to punch somebody," said a smiling Denigan, the SEC Co-Freshman of the Year last season.
Denigan's father, Michael, played collegiate soccer at Southeastern University in Florida, and he introduced his children to the game. And they all took to it quickly. Denigan said she's been kicking a soccer ball "ever since I could walk." Her mother, Robin, was a track athlete at one point, "so I kind of have good DNA and good athletes in and around my family.
"I just fell in love with soccer. I think when I was three or four, my mom put me in a dance class," she said, but it wasn't for her. She'd already found her sport.
"We grew up with a ball at our feet, playing pickup games," she said.
Her older brother, Trey, plays collegiately at Indiana Wesleyan College, while her younger brother, Brice, is still in high school. Whatever the sport or activity, the siblings competed with one another to be the best at it, she said.
"I think it definitely helped with my competitiveness, too. I love the physical part of the game. .... I grew up wrestling with my brothers, so that's what I like about the game," she said, later adding that they talk a lot of smack to one another. "Everything we do, we compete at — in a fun way."
When she was younger, Denigan said, she beat her brothers at sports and other things a lot more often than she does now.
"I did a lot more winning when I was younger, and then we all grew up, and then I stopped (growing) and they kept growing," she said with a laugh. "Now, I'm no longer the strongest and fastest, but I will do anything I can to slow them down."
Denigan's approach is clearly effective and clearly crucial for the Bulldogs. In 32 career games for Georgia over the past two seasons, Denigan has 11 goals and three assists. Last Sunday at Vanderbilt, her first-half lefty finish off a pass from Cate Hardin on the left wing, was the game's only goal. It was her fifth goal of the season, second only to Margie Detrizio's team-leading six, and Denigan is tied with Nicole Vernis for the team lead with three assists.
"That's the goal of the game, and I try to put myself in the best position possible to help my team win," Denigan said of her scoring output.
A year ago, in Denigan's first season at Georgia after transferring from Florida State, where she'd played in three games as a freshman before a season-ending injury, she shared the team lead of six goals with Vernis and Hannah White. All three are back this season, but so far only Denigan has picked up where she left off offensively. White scored twice against North Carolina for her only goals so far, while Vernis has the three assists but no goals.
Detrizio has attempted a team-high 27 shots, followed by Denigan's 24 and White's 18. The Bulldogs (5-3-2, 1-1-0 SEC) will need to be in form at both ends of the field Thursday at No. 20 Kentucky (8-1-1, 0-1-1). The Wildcats' stadium is about 70 miles from Denigan's hometown of Union, Ky., and she said a lot of friends and family members will be at the game.
Her favorite goal of her career, she said, came in a 1-0 win over Kentucky last season. "Just because it was a game-winner against my home state (school)," Denigan said.
Because of Hurricane Helene, Thursday's game has been moved up to 5 p.m. The Bulldogs beat the Wildcats twice last season, including on their run to winning the SEC tournament, and lead the all-time series 16-9-5.
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
/ SoccerGeorgia Soccer NCAA First Round Postgame Interview
Friday, November 14
Georgia Women's Soccer SECs vs Kentucky Game Highlights
Wednesday, November 05
Georgia Soccer vs Auburn Post Game Interview
Sunday, October 19
Georgia Soccer vs Texas Game Highlights
Friday, October 17