No. 19 Georgia Opens NCAA Tournament Against Ohio State in Athens
(No. 8 Seed) #19/NR Georgia (10-4-6, 6-1-3 SEC) vs. Ohio State (8-4-6, 4-2-5 Big Ten)
Date: Friday, Nov. 14
Time: 3 p.m. EDT
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Turner Soccer Complex (1,682)
Tickets: $10 per ticket – On Sale at https://gado.gs/ncaasoc25tix
MEDIA INFORMATION
Streaming: ESPN+ (Jeff Dantzler, PxP / Mollie Belisle, Analyst)
Live Stats: NCAA.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
First Meeting
QUICK KICKS
Bring On the Bucks
No. 19 Georgia begins a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament at home with its first-ever matchup against Ohio State, the opening match of the 2025 championships. The Bulldogs received a No. 8 seed in the Notre Dame quadrant of the bracket, earning an NCAA Tournament bid and national seed for the fourth straight year – both program firsts. Along with Ohio State, Georgia has previously hosted two Big Ten opponents this season, splitting August matchups against UCLA (L, 1-0) and Michigan (W, 3-0). In the NCAA Tournament, Georgia’s lone previous Big Ten encounter was a 3-2 victory over Iowa in the 2023 Second Round.
O-H-I-O
Ohio State is making its 15th appearance in the last 17 seasons under head coach Lori Walker-Hock. Last season, the Buckeyes advanced to the Sweet 16 before falling to eventual NCAA runner-up Wake Forest. This season, Ohio State was dominant on the defensive front, only allowing 11 goals thanks to senior and Atlanta native Molly Pritchard, the Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year. Pritchard, who holds the program record with 30 career shutouts, joined with fellow First Team honoree Mirann Gacioch to hold opponents scoreless for over 700 minutes during the season. Junior forward Mandy Schlueter was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team as she led the team with eight goals and four assists.
Downed by the Dores
Georgia’s run in the SEC Tournament ended with a 2-0 loss to eventual tournament champion Vanderbilt on Nov. 6 in Pensacola. The Commodores outshot the Bulldogs, 14-7, including a 7-1 advantage in shots on frame. Georgia’s lone shot on goal came in the 84th minute as senior defender Cate Hardin’s shot was saved by Commodore goalkeeper Sara Wojdelko. Hannah Folliard tallied five saves for the second-consecutive match. Despite the setback, Summer Denigan and Kiera Staude were named to the SEC All-Tournament Team.
Fighting Like Cats and Dogs
Georgia and Kentucky laid everything on the line in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, with the Bulldogs advancing, 5-4, on penalties following a 1-1 draw in extra time on Nov. 4. The Bulldogs converted on their first four attempts, while Kentucky’s first attempt missed wide right. After a make by Maddy Herniter, Hannah Folliard saved the sixth Wildcat shot to advance the Bulldogs to Thursday’s semifinals. Folliard finished the match with five saves, the second-most of her Georgia career. Following a Kentucky goal early in the second half, Summer Denigan went top shelf in the 75th minute to equalize with her 11th goal of the season and help send the match into extra time.
All-League Performers
Georgia collected five SEC postseason honors, led by Summer Denigan becoming the Bulldogs’ first First Team honoree since Abby Boyan in 2022. Denigan was previously named SEC Co-Freshman of the Year and to the Second Team in 2023. Cate Hardin and Kiera Staude were both named to the Second Team, with Staude adding to the All-Freshman Team honor she received in 2023. Rookies Hannah Folliard and Mya Townes rounded out the accolades with All-Freshman Team designations.
BK Beats the Bulldogs
Graduate BK Harris found the perfect time for her first Georgia goal, scoring in the 75th minute to help the Bulldogs top No. 25 Mississippi State, 1-0, in the SEC regular season finale Oct. 26 in Starkville. Harris’ initial shot was blocked, but she regrouped to send in the goal, earning a spot on TopDrawerSoccer’s National Team of the Week. With the win, Georgia clinched a third-place finish, tied with the 2001 team for the second-highest overall finish in program history. The win was Georgia’s first road win over a ranked opponent since 2021, while the Bulldogs’ 24 fouls were the most in a match since 1998.
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 10 goals to lead the team, while Kante has posted 10 90-minute efforts for a backline that has only surrendered 13 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 14 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 22 of its 38 goals taking place in the second half of matches. BK Harris and Summer Denigan each scored in the 75th minute in the past two matches to give the Bulldogs 12 such goals in SEC matches. Additionally, nine of Georgia’s second-half scores have occurred in the final 20 minutes of play, as did Harris and Denigan’s goals.
Still Summertime in Athens
Redshirt junior midfielder Summer Denigan posted of one of the greatest individual regular seasons in Georgia history. Denigan, who was named to the MAC Hermann Midseason Watch List, has tallied 11 goals (second in the SEC) and an assist. In the Georgia record books, Denigan ranks fifth in winners with 10 in her career, along with 10th place overall in goals (22). 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
Date: Friday, Nov. 14
Time: 3 p.m. EDT
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Turner Soccer Complex (1,682)
Tickets: $10 per ticket – On Sale at https://gado.gs/ncaasoc25tix
MEDIA INFORMATION
Streaming: ESPN+ (Jeff Dantzler, PxP / Mollie Belisle, Analyst)
Live Stats: NCAA.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
First Meeting
QUICK KICKS
Bring On the Bucks
No. 19 Georgia begins a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament at home with its first-ever matchup against Ohio State, the opening match of the 2025 championships. The Bulldogs received a No. 8 seed in the Notre Dame quadrant of the bracket, earning an NCAA Tournament bid and national seed for the fourth straight year – both program firsts. Along with Ohio State, Georgia has previously hosted two Big Ten opponents this season, splitting August matchups against UCLA (L, 1-0) and Michigan (W, 3-0). In the NCAA Tournament, Georgia’s lone previous Big Ten encounter was a 3-2 victory over Iowa in the 2023 Second Round.
O-H-I-O
Ohio State is making its 15th appearance in the last 17 seasons under head coach Lori Walker-Hock. Last season, the Buckeyes advanced to the Sweet 16 before falling to eventual NCAA runner-up Wake Forest. This season, Ohio State was dominant on the defensive front, only allowing 11 goals thanks to senior and Atlanta native Molly Pritchard, the Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year. Pritchard, who holds the program record with 30 career shutouts, joined with fellow First Team honoree Mirann Gacioch to hold opponents scoreless for over 700 minutes during the season. Junior forward Mandy Schlueter was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team as she led the team with eight goals and four assists.
Downed by the Dores
Georgia’s run in the SEC Tournament ended with a 2-0 loss to eventual tournament champion Vanderbilt on Nov. 6 in Pensacola. The Commodores outshot the Bulldogs, 14-7, including a 7-1 advantage in shots on frame. Georgia’s lone shot on goal came in the 84th minute as senior defender Cate Hardin’s shot was saved by Commodore goalkeeper Sara Wojdelko. Hannah Folliard tallied five saves for the second-consecutive match. Despite the setback, Summer Denigan and Kiera Staude were named to the SEC All-Tournament Team.
Fighting Like Cats and Dogs
Georgia and Kentucky laid everything on the line in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, with the Bulldogs advancing, 5-4, on penalties following a 1-1 draw in extra time on Nov. 4. The Bulldogs converted on their first four attempts, while Kentucky’s first attempt missed wide right. After a make by Maddy Herniter, Hannah Folliard saved the sixth Wildcat shot to advance the Bulldogs to Thursday’s semifinals. Folliard finished the match with five saves, the second-most of her Georgia career. Following a Kentucky goal early in the second half, Summer Denigan went top shelf in the 75th minute to equalize with her 11th goal of the season and help send the match into extra time.
All-League Performers
Georgia collected five SEC postseason honors, led by Summer Denigan becoming the Bulldogs’ first First Team honoree since Abby Boyan in 2022. Denigan was previously named SEC Co-Freshman of the Year and to the Second Team in 2023. Cate Hardin and Kiera Staude were both named to the Second Team, with Staude adding to the All-Freshman Team honor she received in 2023. Rookies Hannah Folliard and Mya Townes rounded out the accolades with All-Freshman Team designations.
BK Beats the Bulldogs
Graduate BK Harris found the perfect time for her first Georgia goal, scoring in the 75th minute to help the Bulldogs top No. 25 Mississippi State, 1-0, in the SEC regular season finale Oct. 26 in Starkville. Harris’ initial shot was blocked, but she regrouped to send in the goal, earning a spot on TopDrawerSoccer’s National Team of the Week. With the win, Georgia clinched a third-place finish, tied with the 2001 team for the second-highest overall finish in program history. The win was Georgia’s first road win over a ranked opponent since 2021, while the Bulldogs’ 24 fouls were the most in a match since 1998.
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 10 goals to lead the team, while Kante has posted 10 90-minute efforts for a backline that has only surrendered 13 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 14 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 22 of its 38 goals taking place in the second half of matches. BK Harris and Summer Denigan each scored in the 75th minute in the past two matches to give the Bulldogs 12 such goals in SEC matches. Additionally, nine of Georgia’s second-half scores have occurred in the final 20 minutes of play, as did Harris and Denigan’s goals.
Still Summertime in Athens
Redshirt junior midfielder Summer Denigan posted of one of the greatest individual regular seasons in Georgia history. Denigan, who was named to the MAC Hermann Midseason Watch List, has tallied 11 goals (second in the SEC) and an assist. In the Georgia record books, Denigan ranks fifth in winners with 10 in her career, along with 10th place overall in goals (22). 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
- Each team features a veteran local talent: graduate defender BK Harris is a native of New Albany, Ohio, located just over 20 miles from the Ohio State campus, while Buckeyes keeper Molly Pritchard is an Atlanta native and graduate of Greater Atlanta Christian School.
- Georgia has found tremendous success away from home in the Keidane McAlpine era, earning a result in 17 of 20 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 helped the Mexican national team earn a bronze medal at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. She is back with the Bulldogs this week for her first availability since the Florida match on Sept. 26.
- Georgia has posted three unbeaten streaks of five or more matches this season, becoming the first squad to program history to achieve the feat. The Bulldogs are currently on a season-long six match streak.
Up Next
If victorious, Georgia will face the winner of Notre Dame-UIC in the Second Round next Thursday.
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Admission: Tickets for Friday’s match cost $10 per ticket and can be purchased at https://gado.gs/ncaasoc25tix. The Turner Soccer Complex will open one hour prior to the start of the match. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling the UGA Ticket Office, or with on-site purchasing on Friday. Current UGA students can receive free admission with a valid university ID.
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.
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