The UGA soccer team began preseason training for the first time as a full squad with coaches present on Wednesday with a morning and afternoon session in preparation for the upcoming 2017 season.
 
 
Camp will take place throughout the week and continue next week, leading up to the exhibition match against Auburn on Thursday, August 10 at 7 p.m. at the Turner Soccer Complex. The Bulldogs will play a second exhibition game on Saturday, August 12 at Georgia Southern.
 
 
The 2017 edition of the Bulldogs includes six returning starters from a season ago, in addition to 12 newcomers.
 
 
Georgia lost its leading scorer from the previous two seasons, however, head coach Billy Lesesne feels senior Kelsey Killean is ready to step into that role.
 
 
“There’s going to be a balance at the forward position, but when Kelsey Killean was healthy last year she scored at a decent clip,” Lesesne said. “She came into training yesterday and had the highest score of our beep test. She has come in fit and that is going to be the key- to keep her fit and healthy. She’s a player that stretches defenses. By number, we have more forwards than we did last year. I think it’s going to be somewhat by committee, so we need to get players to play with her.”
 
 
The 2017 campaign officially kicks off on Friday, August 18 when Georgia welcomes Wake Forest to the Turner Soccer Complex. That game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.