#19/NR Georgia (9-3-4, 5-1-2 SEC) vs. Auburn (5-5-5, 1-3-4 SEC)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 19
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Turner Soccer Complex (1,682)
 
MEDIA INFORMATION
TV: SEC Network (Jonathan Yardley, PxP / Marion Crowder, 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: Auburn leads 13-11-5
In Athens: Auburn leads 6-4-2
In Auburn: Tied, 5-5-3
Neutral: Tied, 2-2-0
Last Meeting: T, 2-2 (Oct. 24, 2024 – Auburn, Ala.)
Current Streak: T2
GF / GA: 33 / 34
 
QUICK KICKS
Familiar Foe for the Finale
No. 19 Georgia closes out its regular season home schedule against rival Auburn on Sunday at the Turner Soccer Complex. Georgia is looking for its first win over Auburn since a 1-0 road win in 2015; the last home victory for the Bulldogs in the series came in 2006, when head coach Keidane McAlpine was on the Tigers’ staff. A win Sunday would also clinch the second unbeaten SEC home slate in program history (2001). The Bulldogs and Tigers have tied each of the past two seasons, including a thrilling 2-2 draw last year on the Plains when Nicole Vernis equalized with 30 seconds remaining.
 
Scoreboard Watching
With two matches remaining in the season, Georgia is currently tied for second in the SEC with Tennessee and would hold the No. 3 seed in the SEC Tournament. The Bulldogs are looking to earn a first round bye for the third time in Keidane McAlpine‘s tenure, and potentially, match or surpass the program best No. 2 seed earned in 2007 and 2023. Following Sunday’s match, Georgia will travel to Mississippi State for a fixture with potential seeding implications.
 
Hooked ‘Em
In a back-and-forth affair, Georgia secured a fifth SEC win for the first time since 2022 and its first win over Texas in a 4-2 victory Thursday evening. Making her first start since 2023, Virginia Odom opened the scoring with her first career goal in the 29th minute. Texas earned a pair of goals late in the first half to send the teams tied into the locker room. Freshman Lily Kate Elphick powered the Bulldogs with a brace, scoring a pair of long-distance strikes, while Summer Denigan scored her 10th goal of the season to clinch the win. For the Bulldogs, it was their first win while allowing two or more goals in a match; additionally, Georgia is unbeaten when scoring first and scoring two or more times.
 
Keep It 100 on the Land
Georgia’s talented roster has been awarded with numerous individual honors, including five placements on TopDrawerSoccer’s Top 100 Midseason Player and Freshmen list. Summer Denigan was ranked No. 19 on the top 100 player list, followed by teammate Assa Kante at No. 79. Denigan has scored nine goals to lead the team, while Kante has posted eight 90-minute efforts for a backline that has only surrendured 10 goals. On the freshman list, Maddy Herniter came in at No. 13, with Hannah Folliard (No. 42) and Ayda Pannell (No. 75) joining in. Herniter has started in 13 matches at center back, while Folliard has tallied four shutouts and Pannell notched an assist.
 
Second Half Surges
Georgia’s offense has repeatedly come up clutch late in matches, with 20 of its 35 goals taking place in the second half of matches. The scores from Lily Kate Elphick and Summer Denigan against Texas on Thursday gives the Bulldogs 10 such goals in conference play. Additionally, seven of Georgia’s second-half scores have occurred in the final 20 minutes of play, as did Kiera Staude’s go-ahead score against LSU on Oct. 5.
 
Still Summertime in Athens
Redshirt junior midfielder Summer Denigan is in the midst of one of the greatest individual seasons in Georgia history. Through 16 matches, Denigan, who was named to the MAC Hermann Midseason Watch List, has tallied 10 goals (second in the SEC) and an assist. In the Georgia record books, Denigan ranks fifth in winners with 10 in her career. Her converted penalty against Florida made her the 12th Bulldog to tally 20 career goals, while her 10th against Texas made her the first player since Mollie Belisle to have double-digit scores in a season.
 
Dawg Bites

• The 2025 Bulldogs are one of only three teams in program history to record only one or fewer losses in their first eight matches of SEC play. The 2007 team began its campaign with a 5-1-2 mark, while the 2010 team opened at 4-1-3.
• Georgia has been ranked for eight consecutive weeks, the longest streak for the program since the 2010 season.
• Georgia has found tremendous success away from home in the Keidane McAlpine era, earning a result in 16 of 19 SEC regular season road matches over four seasons. Prior to a 2-0 loss at Tennessee on Oct. 2, the Bulldogs had compiled a program record-tying nine match unbeaten streak in true road matches dating back to September 2024.
• Freshman forward Ava Stack is currently camping with the Mexican U-17 national team in preparation for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, beginning October 17 in Morocco.
• With one more assist, Cate Hardin would become the first Bulldog with five or more assists in conference play since Randi-Lynn Bruso and Kelly Whitaker in 2006.

 
Up Next
No. 19 Georgia closes out the regular season at Mississippi State on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. in Starkville.
 
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Promotion: The first 750 spectators at the Turner Soccer Complex will receive a free Georgia Soccer scarf at halftime.
Free Admission: All matches at Turner Soccer Complex are free. No tickets are required for admission. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Entrance: Spectators will only be able to enter the Turner Soccer Complex through the spectator gate located next to the soccer field on the left field/third base side of the softball 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 2025 season.
Concessions: Concessions will be available via cashless/contactless payment.
Merchandise: The UGA Bookstore will be selling merchandise on site.