Georgia Holds Off No. 2 Vanderbilt for Draw in SEC Opener

Thursday, September 10

Athens, Ga.

7 p.m.

University of Georgia

3-2-3, 0-0-1

Vanderbilt

7-0-1, 0-0-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Vanderbilt	0	1	1
Georgia	1	0	1

Georgia Holds Off No. 2 Vanderbilt for Draw in SEC Opener

September 10, 2026 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia soccer team, despite being reduced to 10 players after a red card in the 23^rdminute, drew 1-1 against No. 2 Vanderbilt on Thursday night before 1,282 spectators at the Turner Soccer Complex.

Fast Facts

Georgia (3-2-3, 0-0-1 SEC) kicked off conference play with a point against second-ranked Vanderbilt (7-0-1, 0-0-1 SEC), marking the second consecutive season in which the Bulldogs have picked up points in the first conference game of the season. Under McAlpine, the Bulldogs have earned a result in their conference opener in four of his five seasons in charge.
The result marks the second time in program history that Georgia has earned a draw against a top two program in the country following a 1-1 draw against top-ranked Florida State in 2024.
Senior midfielder Honoka Hamano opened the scoring in the 15^th minute with a powerful strike just outside the 18-yard box off assists from sophomore forward Mya Townes and senior midfielder Keira Staude.
In the 23^rd minute, graduate goalkeeper Jordan Brown was called for a foul just outside her own 18-yard box. Following a video review, Brown was issued a red card for a denial of a goalscoring opportunity. Sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Folliard stepped between the sticks for the remainder of the match.
The Commodores equalized in the 55^th minute through senior forward Megan Hinnenkamp's goal. Vanderbilt continued to press throughout the second half, including one final shot stopped by Folliard with 20 seconds remaining.
In the tie, Georgia was outshot by Vanderbilt, 20-8, with the Commodores also amassing a 15-3 advantage in corner kicks. Folliard made a season-high six saves, tying her career-best in stops.

Key Quotes
Georgia Head Coach Keidane McAlpine
On Hannah Folliard entering for Jordan Brown in the first half…
"That's a difficult place to come into a game that's already going, has the energy that it has. Obviously, she (Folliard) was a little shaky right there at the beginning with a couple of those, but she made the save. Her team had her back, and then she settled down. Once she settled down, she was the goalkeeper that we expected her to be. She's fantastic, and we expect her to be so when we play Oklahoma, and she was fantastic to close out the game tonight."

On the team's endurance with 10 players in the second half…
"Unfortunately, playing a man down, we had to rely on some of the experience that we had in the team. We didn't get to go into the rest of the team as we wanted to. However, we're going to have to rely on some of those other legs, some of those other players to give us the energy in some of the other games. Oklahoma's going to run and fight and scrap just like this game, so we're going to need more of them to step up and play. Tonight, we leaned on experience for the most part, and it got us through."

#14 Hannah Folliard | So. | GK
On entering the match in the first half…
"I knew Keidane yesterday...obviously, JB was starting, so he told me to stay ready. I had full faith in JB, but obviously I had to stay prepared. Going into the game, my mindset was more like one ball at a time. I have a good line in front of me. It was just more like getting my feet under me. Obviously, the circumstances aren't ideal. We're down a player. But overall, just trying to balance between what I'm good at and then what the team needs in that moment. I think as the game went on, it was easier to get things to happen."

#19 Honoka Hamano | Sr.| MF
On playing with 10 players…
"I didn't expect this game to be like this. It just is what it is. I think we did a good job of defending."

Up Next
Georgia is back in action next Friday, Sept. 18 against Oklahoma at 6:30 p.m. EDT at the Turner Soccer Complex. Admission is free for all spectators, and the match will stream live on SEC Network+.