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SOC: Georgia kicks off 30th season with matchup against No. 7 Pitt

Date: Today, Aug. 15

Time: 6:30 p.m. EDT

Site: Turner Soccer Complex (1,682)

MEDIA INFORMATION

Stream: SEC Network+ (Jeff Dantzler, PxP / Tatum Hodge, 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: Georgia leads 1-0-0

In Athens: Georgia leads 1-0-0

Last Meeting: Georgia – W, 1-0 (Sept. 9, 2005 – Athens, Ga.)

Current Streak: W1

GF / GA: 2 / 0

Kicking Off the Season

No. 14 Georgia kicks off its 30th season with a primetime matchup against No. 7 Pitt today at Turner Soccer Complex. The Panthers reached the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in program history last season, upsetting Arkansas and Memphis before falling to eventual national champion Florida State. Pitt’s appearance marks only the 10th top-10 non-conference opponent to play in Athens. Georgia is 0-8-1 in those previous matchups, although the Bulldogs tied No. 9 Clemson, 1-1, last September. In the only previous meeting between the programs, Georgia topped Pitt, 2-0, on Sept. 9, 2005 in Athens.

Playing with Expectations

Following last season’s historic achievements, including the first SEC Tournament title in program history and a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16, Georgia enters the 2024 season with the highest preseason expectations in its history. The Bulldogs were ranked 14th in the United Soccer Coaches and 11th in the Top Drawer Soccer preseason rankings, both highest marks in school history. Georgia also tied for third with South Carolina in the SEC preseason coaches’ poll. Additionally, seven Bulldogs were named to the SEC Preseason Watch List, while redshirt sophomore midfielder Summer Denigan ranked 92nd in TDS’ Top 100 Players List.

Wealth of Experience

Despite losing potential NWSL Rookie of the Year Croix Bethune, Georgia returns a deep and talented roster for 2024, including 19 letterwinners and 10 players with at least eight starts last season. All three leading goal scorers, Denigan and graduates Nicole Vernis and Hannah White, return for this season, as does Freshman All-American Kiera Staude to anchor the backline. Junior goal keeper Jordan Brown talled a 76.7 save percentage last season and looks to take another leap with new goalkeeper coach Rade Tanaskovic at the helm. As a team, the Bulldogs return 74 percent of its minutes from last season, particularly on the backline with senior Jessie Dunn and junior Cate Hardin.

New Faces in New Places

Along with the returning veterans, Georgia welcomes eight new players to its roster with five transfers and three freshmen. Graduate forward Margie Detrizio comes to Athens with 26 career goals and 16 assists at Washington State, in addition to two All-Pac-12 honors in the past two seasons. Graduate midfielder Amber Nguyen and junior defender Maddie Baker join the Bulldogs from Vanderbilt, with Nguyen tallying 21 points over four seasons with the Commodores. Graduate forward Maddy Pirrello is another SEC transfer, coming over from Florida after three seasons in Gainesville. Pirrello ranked second on the Gators in assists and third in goals last season. Sophomore defender and Marietta native Tyler Kaseta also returned home from Xavier and will be a contributor on the Bulldogs’ back line. The Bulldogs’ small, but impressive freshman group features forwards Sophia Brelage and Cayla Jackson, along with goalkeeper Nikki Bidun.

The Georgia coaching staff also garnered a boost with the addition of goalkeeper coach Rade Tanaskovic. Tanaskovic joined Georgia this spring following five seasons with the Chicago Red Stars of the NWSL, where he worked directly with USWNT keeper Alyssa Naeher. The Serbian national and North Georgia graduate also helped the Americans win the SheBelieves Cup in April and will serve on staff for the U.S. U-20 team at the U-20 Women’s World Cup next month in Colombia.

Championship Pedigree

Both Georgia head coach Keidane McAlpine and Pitt head coach Randy Waldrum have turned their respective programs into top postseason contenders, an unsurprising result for two of the game’s best managers. McAlpine (2016 – USC) and Waldrum (2004, 2010 – Notre Dame) have each won NCAA College Cup championships at previous stops, making this the first-ever meeting of title-winning coaches at Turner Soccer Complex. During his tenure, McAlpine has faced other title-winning coaches: the recently retired Anson Dorrance at North Carolina in 2022 and Margueritte Aozasa at UCLA in 2023, with another such matchup coming against Florida State’s Brian Pensky in two weeks.

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 contests against defending champion Florida State and quarterfinalists Pitt and UNC in the first two weeks of the season, followed by four preseason-ranked SEC opponents. In 2023, the Bullodgs 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).

Coming Back Strong

The Georgia roster received a boost for 2024 as senior midfielder Ellie Gilbert returned to the field for last Saturday’s exhibition match against Tennessee Tech just 10 months after tearing her ACL at Tennessee. Gilbert enters this season ranked second among active Bulldogs in starts (45) and appearances (55) and has been named a captain alongside graduate midfielder Nicole Vernis. In addition to Gilbert, graduate midfielder Dasia Torbert is close to making her return to the field after missing nearly two years due to injury. Torbert had established herself as the Bulldogs’ top playmaker early in the 2022 season and is expected to again contribute as she was named to the SEC Preseason Watch List.

Gold Medal Croix

Last season, Croix Bethune helped lead Georgia to its most historic season ever, earning SEC Tournament MVP and Second Team All-America honors. The Alpharetta native has only continued to make history since, going third overall to the Washington Spirit in January’s NWSL Draft. She became the first-ever first round draft pick in program history and the second-highest drafted SEC player ever. Since joining Washington, she has scored five goals and assisted on nine, already tying for the second-most in a season in NWSL history. Bethune has been named Rookie of the Month and a Best XI selection in each month of the season. Along with her pro exploits, she was named as an alternate for the United States Olympic team, eventually being called up to the main roster and playing the closing minutes of its group finale against Australia before winning Georgia Soccer’s first gold medal last Saturday in Paris.

Up Next

No. 14 Georgia heads on the road for the first time to season to face No. 8 North Carolina on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 5 p.m. at Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill. The match will stream live on ACC Network Extra. Georgia and North Carolina last played in the 2022 NCAA Tournament Second Round, with the Tar Heels prevailing, 3-1, in Chapel Hill.

SPECTATOR INFORMATION

Promotions: Thursday’s match is Olympics at Turner Night. The first 500 spectators will receive a voucher for a Georgia-themed Olympic T-shirt to be redeemed at halftime.

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.

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