Georgia Hosts No. 8 South Carolina in Home Showdown

Thursday, September 22

Athens, Ga.

7 p.m.

University of Georgia

South Carolina

Georgia Hosts No. 8 South Carolina in Home Showdown

September 21, 2022 | Soccer

Match Notes

Georgia (7-2-0, 0-0-0 SEC) vs. No. 8 South Carolina (5-1-3, 0-1-0 SEC)
Date: Thursday, Sept. 22
Time: 7 p.m. EDT
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Turner Soccer Complex (1,682)

MEDIA INFORMATION
Live Stream: SEC Network+ (Jeff Dantzler, PxP / Tatum Hodge, Analyst)
Live Stats: GeorgiaDogs.com
Twitter: @UGASoccer
Instagram: @UGASoccer

Social Media: For complete information on Georgia soccer, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGASoccer on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

QUICK KICKS
Carolina Comes to Town
Georgia opens the home portion of its 2022 SEC schedule with a visit from No. 8 South Carolina. The Bulldogs have faced the Gamecocks during every season in program history, one of only two programs (Florida) to share that distinction. During the series, Georgia has amassed a 16-11-5 record against South Carolina, including a scoreless tie last season in Columbia. Throughout its history, the series has been defined by close matchups, with 22 meetings being decided by one goal or less, including five of the last six.

Opportunity Knocks
The Gamecocks represent the second ranked opponent for the Bulldogs this season, entering the match ranked No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. Georgia is 8-50-2 all-time against top-10 opponents. On Oct. 16, 2009, No. 23 Georgia beat No. 5 South Carolina, 2-1, in Athens for the first top-5 victory in program history.

Gig 'Em, Dawgs
Georgia is looking to carry the momentum from a dramatic 3-2 win at Texas A&M last Friday. Despite being outshot, 19-8, the Bulldogs converted on all three shots on frame, including a pair of go-ahead goals after Aggie equalizers. Dasia Torbert tallied a career-best three points, including the winning goal in the 69th minute, earning her SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. She also became just the seventh player in program history to post a point in five straight matches. In net, Liz Beardsley posted five saves despite facing season highs in shots and corners. The win marked Georgia's first in an SEC road opener since 2013 and extended the team's winning streak to six, tied for third-longest in program history.

Dawgs in the Polls
With the SEC opener victory, Georgia moved up to seventh in the United Soccer Coaches Southeast Region rankings and debuted at No. 30 in the inaugural NCAA RPI rankings. The Bulldogs are one of 10 SEC schools ranked in the top 50 of the RPI, including upcoming opponents South Carolina and Alabama.

Dawgs' Defense Coming Up Big
Despite only having 45 minutes of previous experience under her belt, sophomore goalkeeper Liz Beardsley has impressed in her first full season in goal. After posting a shutout against Georgia Southern, Beardsley posted a solid performance against then-No. 1 Florida State, tallying six saves, including an outstanding leaping punch-save in the second half. She then only allowed one goal against Wake Forest before notching shutouts in her next five starts. The Georgia backline has solidified with the same four players starting in every match so far. The Bulldog defenders have only allowed an average of 7.8 shots per game and 24 total corner kicks.

McAlpine Against the Gamecocks
Georgia head coach Keidane McAlpine has faced South Carolina once in his career: a 3-0 defeat in 2002 as head coach of Birmingham-Southern. In the match, McAlpine faced off against his sister, Kanika, who started for the Gamecocks at left back.

Graduates Nearing History
With her 28th-minute goal against FSU, graduate forward Dani Murguia reached 50 points in her career, moving closer to the top 10 in program history. With an assist against Georgia State, Murguia now sits only three behind Suzannah Weathersbee for the program career record (24) and will look to set a new top mark during the season.

Fellow graduates Abby Boyan and Cecily Stoute are also nearing the top of the program record books. Boyan has now appeared and started in 80 matches (tied for eighth-most in program history), putting her on pace to eventually break the records held by Natalie Farley (88 appearances) and Carrie Patterson (87 starts). She is also now tied seventh all-time in assists (18) and shots (175). Murguia (79 appearances) and Stoute (77 apps/starts) are also in line to eventually reach the top of the list as well.

Mighty McKenzie
Mallie McKenzie is in the midst of a career-best streak, scoring in three of Georgia's last four matches. Against USF, McKenzie became the 12th player in program history to score in three straight outings. McKenzie is tied for the team lead in points (9) and leads in SOG percentage (.600). She also ranks seventh in the nation and second in the SEC with three game-winning goals.

Up Next
Georgia heads across the border to face rival Florida on Sunday, Sept. 25 at noon at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The match will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Admission to Turner Soccer Complex is free with clear bag policy in effect. The first 300 spectators in attendance will receive free T-shirts and free pizza.