Georgia Closes Non-Conference Against Washington State Sunday

Georgia (3-2-2, 0-0-0 SEC) vs. Washington State (3-2-2, 0-0-0 WCC)
Date: Sunday, Sept. 15
Time: 1 p.m. EDT
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Turner Soccer Complex (1,682)

MEDIA INFORMATION
Stream: SEC Network+ (Jeff Dantler, PxP / Weldon Kolker, Analyst)
Live Stats: GeorgiaDogs.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.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: First Meeting

QUICK KICKS
One More with Wazzu
Georgia, ranked 19th in the Top Drawer Soccer rankings, concludes its non-conference schedule with a matchup against Washington State. Sunday's match marks the first-ever meeting between the Bulldogs and Cougars, who previously played Georgia Southern last Thursday in a 2-0 win in Athens. For this season, Washington State is playing as a member of the West Coast Conference, with Georgia holding a 2-4-1 record all-time against WCC members. In terms of the Cougars' once and future conference, the Pac-12, the Bulldogs are 2-9-2 all-time.

Bulldogs Best
Georgia moved to a winning record for the first time this season in a 2-0 victory over Samford Thursday in Athens. Graduate forward Tori Penn opened the scoring in the 12th minute with her second goal of the season, set up by an assist from fellow grad forward Margie Detrizio. Detrizio later tacked on a 22nd-minute goal, her team-leading fifth of the season, off an assist from graduate midfielder Nicole Vernis, who now leads the team with three. Junior goalkeeper Jordan Brown notched her 16th career shutout and 20th individual win with six saves on the evening. The Bulldogs also held their opponent to zero corner kicks for the 43rd time in program history and first since last year's tie against Florida.

Coug Connections
Multiple members of both teams carry connections into Sunday's match. Head coach Keidane McAlpine led Washington State from 2012-13, alongside associate head coach Jason Lockhart. McAlpine and Lockhart led the Cougars to two winning seasons and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances before leaving for USC. Georgia standout Margie Detrizio played in Pullman for four seasons, earning two All-Pac-12 honors and finishing her career top-10 in program history in points, goals, assists, and shots before graduating in May. Senior midfielder Aly Akers is a Bellevue, Washington native, one of five Evergreen State natives in program history.

For Wazzu, head coach Todd Shulenberger has a long history in the Peach State. Shulenberger served 10 years as director of coaching for Tophat Soccer Club and spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Georgia State. Eight members of the current Bulldog roster played for Tophat during their club careers. Cougar defender Alena Watts is a Marietta native and played for Lassiter HS and United Futbol Academy.

Clean Sheets in the House
With the 2-0 win over Samford, Georgia has started its home season with four consecutive shutouts, the Bulldogs' longest shutout streak to open the season since four straight to begin 2013. In the 1999 season, the Bulldogs began the home campaign with eight-consecutive clean sheets, en route to a program-record 12 for the year. With Thursday's result, Georgia has only allowed one goal in its last eight home contests.

Dawg Bites

With Thursday's win over Samford, Georgia is currently on an nine-match unbeaten streak at home (six wins, three ties) dating back to last season's win over Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs have also won or tied its last 14 non-conference opponents at Turner Soccer Complex.
Against one of the nation's strongest slates, Brown leads the SEC with 43 saves and ranks first in saves per game (6.14), nearly two more than Texas' Mia Justus.
Assistant coach Rade Tanaskovic is away from the team for the next three weeks as he serves on staff for the United States at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Colombia. In his absence, director of recruiting and player development Sammy Towne has been elevated to assistant coach.

Strong Slate as Always
Throughout his early tenure in Athens, Keidane McAlpine has made it a point to challenge his team with a difficult non-conference schedule. Last season, matches against UCLA, Clemson, and UCF helped Georgia finish No. 7 in the NCAA RPI and earn a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament. This year's schedule is no different with the slate currently ranking fifth nationally and second in the SEC in difficulty.

In 2023, the Bulldogs were the only Power 5 school to play a team from each of the other four leagues. This season, they are one of five with the distinction, joining Texas, Iowa, Michigan, and Baylor. The Bulldogs and Hawkeyes are the only two P4 institutions to face each of the other Power conferences, as well as take on a remaining Pac-12 school (Georgia - Washington State, Iowa - Oregon State).

Up Next
Georgia begins its SEC season against No. 25 South Carolina on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.

SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Free Admission: All matches at Turner Soccer Complex are free. No tickets are required for admission.
Parking: Due to construction at the Turner Soccer Complex, parking is first-come, first-serve and carpooling is encouraged.
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 2024 season.
Concessions: Concessions will be available via cashless/contactless payment.
Merchandise: The UGA Bookstore will be selling merchandise on site.

Georgia Closes Non-Conference Against Washington State Sunday

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Players Mentioned

Aly Akers

Jordan Brown

Margie Detrizio

Tori Penn

Nicole Vernis