Georgia is set to open its 2017 soccer season with a pair of home games against Wake Forest and High Point this weekend at the Turner Soccer Complex. The Bulldogs kick off action against the Deacons on Friday, August 18th at 7:00 p.m. before welcoming the Panthers on Sunday, August 20th at 2:00 p.m.

 
“We are looking forward to the challenges of the weekend,” Georgia head coach Billy Lesesne said. “We have two really good teams coming to Athens. Wake Forest, from the ACC, has a really rich tradition in soccer so we’re excited to have them come to our place for the first game in the newly renovated Turner Soccer Complex. It should be a great Friday night. Then we have High Point on Sunday and they are a team that has done very well in their league. We will have an opportunity to see how we have advanced against good competition. I am excited for us to learn, grow, and keep moving in a positive direction.”
 
 
Following a 6-11-1 record in 2016, Georgia returns 16 players from last year’s squad and welcomes 12 newcomers to the roster.
 
 
Historically, Georgia is 14-3-5 all-time in season openers, most recently playing to a 1-1 draw in double overtime against Oklahoma State. Overall, the Bulldogs are winners of seven of their last 12 season openers dating back to 2005, and have outscored opponents by a count of 23-2 in those games.
 
 
Earlier this week Mariel Gutierrez, Louise Hogrell, and Katie Higgins were named to the Southeastern Conference Preseason Watch List. Hogrell received the honor for the third consecutive season, while this marks the second consecutive season Gutierrez was named to the list.
 
 
Wake Forest is coming off a 10-8 overall record and 2-8 mark in the ACC. The Deacons return 14 players and were picked to finish ninth in the conference this season.
 
 
High Point played to a 13-6-2 record with a 7-1-1 mark in Big South action and finished as conference champions in 2016. The Panthers return eight starters to the field and were picked to finish second this season.
 
 
The first 300 fans at Friday’s game against Wake Forest will receive a free Georgia soccer t-shirt and an autograph session will take place immediately following the match.
 
 
Fans now have the opportunity to enjoy Georgia soccer games with a UGA soccer seatback. The seatbacks are thick and comfortable, and can be purchased at the Fan Info table located in the plaza of the Turner Soccer Complex for $5 per game. You can also save $15 by purchasing a soccer seatback for all nine home matches of the season for a total of $30.