(Photo by Steven Colquitt/Georgia Sports Communication)
The Georgia soccer team fell to No. 10 Auburn 3-2 in the first exhibition game of the 2017 season at the Turner Soccer Complex on Thursday evening.
With three minutes remaining in the game, Auburn’s Ellie Leek snuck a penalty kick past Georgia freshman Liz Brucia, who posted four saves after her entrance into the game at the start of the second half.
“It was good to see some of the response of our players, especially in the second half,” head coach Billy Lesesne said. “We played against ourselves for the last five or six days so now to get a chance to play against another group that is going to stress us and put us under duress.”
(Photo: Steffenie Burns/Georgia Sports Communication)
Freshman Mollie Belisle recorded her first collegiate goal to put Georgia on the board with a shot off Auburn goalkeeper Sarah Le Beau in the 10th minute. The Bulldogs held the advantage until Auburn’s Alyssa Malonson scored the equalizer in the 20th minute.
An assist from Kristen Dodson set up a second Auburn goal from Katie Hickman to give the Tigers the lead in the 36th frame.
In the second half, freshman Reagan Glisson broke up 21 minutes of a scoreless play with a penalty kick to even the contest at two, but Auburn’s own penalty kick sealed the final score.
“Now we get to break down the film and see where we can correct things,” Lesesne said. “We shouldn’t be at our peak right now, but we got a lot of things that we can work on. All good exhibitions against really good teams to give us that opportunity.”
Georgia completes exhibition play at Georgia Southern on Saturday at 6 p.m.
The season officially kicks off at Turner Soccer Complex against Wake Forest on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs cap the weekend against High Point in Athens at 2 p.m. Admission is free.