Georgia Hosts No. 12 North Carolina Thursday
RV/NR Georgia (1-1-0, 0-0-0 SEC) vs. #12 / #6 North Carolina (1-1-0, 0-0-0 ACC)
Date: Thursday, Aug. 21
Time: 6:30 p.m. EDT
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Turner Soccer Complex (1,682)
MEDIA INFORMATION
Stream: SEC Network+ (Jeff Dantzler, PxP / Mollie Belisle, 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: North Carolina leads 6-0-0
In Athens: First Meeting
In Chapel Hill: North Carolina leads 3-0-0
Neutral: North Carolina leads 3-0-0
Last Meeting: North Carolina – W, 4-3 (Aug. 22, 2024 – Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Current Streak: L6
GF / GA: 4 / 27
QUICK KICKS
Here Come the Heels
For the first time in program history, Georgia welcomes the nation’s winningest program, No. 12/6 North Carolina, to the Turner Soccer Complex Thursday. North Carolina opened the season with the No. 1 ranking, but was upset by Tennessee, 2-0, last Thursday in Knoxville. The Tar Heels rebounded with a 5-0 defeat of Siena on Sunday. Thursday’s match marks the fourth-consecutive year in which Georgia has faced the defending national champion (Florida State – 2022, 2024; UCLA – 2023).
The first six meetings in the series, all UNC victories, were played in either Chapel Hill or Durham, including a pair of NCAA Tournament contests. Despite the winless record against the Tar Heels, the Bulldogs have been more competitive in two meetings under Keidane McAlpine, scoring their first-ever goal in the series during the 2022 NCAA Second Round match. Last season, Georgia pushed the eventual national champions in a 4-3 loss, with Hannah White scoring a pair of highlight reel goals in the defeat. McAlpine is 1-4 all-time against North Carolina with his lone win coming in his 2016 national title season at USC.
Down Goes the Danes
Georgia earned its first win of the season Sunday with a dominant 6-0 victory over UAlbany, matching last season’s largest margin of victory. The Bulldogs outshot the Great Danes, 34-1, not allowing a shot on goal for the first time since a 3-0 win at Florida on Sept. 25, 2022, while allowing the fewest shots by an opponent since a 4-0 defeat of Binghamton on Aug. 25, 2019. After a series of close misses in the opening minutes, Summer Denigan opened the scoring as she played off her crossbar miss for the first goal of the day. UAlbany kept the score in check for most of the first half before a pair of own goals in the final 90 seconds broke open the score. The Great Danes were the first opponent in program history to post two own goals in the same match. In the second half, Kiera Staude scored the second goal of her Bulldog career, while Juliauna Hayward and Lily Kate Elphick both knotted their first goals in a Georgia uniform.
Bruin Battle
Georgia turned in a valiant effort in its season opener Thursday, dropping a 1-0 decision to No. 8 UCLA before 1,501 spectators at Turner Soccer Complex. The Bulldogs started seven new players, including three freshmen (Hannah Folliard, Maddy Herniter, and Mya Townes). The 17-year-old Folliard, who reclassified from the class of 2026, made an impressive debut in net with six saves, only allowing a goal by Bella Winn in the 66th minute. Herniter was one of two field players (Assa Kante) to play all 90 minutes, anchoring the back line in her collegiate debut, while Townes nearly notched her first career goal with a long strike that caromed off the crossbar. Senior defender Cate Hardin tallied a career-high six shots to lead all players, including a tremendous look at an equalizer that was blocked in the final minute of play.
New Faces
Georgia enters the 2025 season with one of the largest roster turnovers in program history, welcoming back only 11 letterwinners along with 18 freshmen and transfers. In the process, the Bulldogs have gone from a roster with seven graduate players in 2024 to 12 first-year athletes in 2025. The transfer class is led by graduate defender Laila Booker, a three-time All-Ivy League performer at Yale, who was ranked 79th in TopDrawerSoccer’s Top 100 Player Rankings. The transfers also include LSU veteran forward Sage Glover, All-Big 12 midfielder Juliauna Hayward (Colorado), and Big 12 champion Assa Kante (Kansas).
On the freshman front, USYNT members Mya Townes and Hannah Folliard highlight an esteemed class which also includes Mexican youth national teamers Hailey Gordon and Ava Stack. Townes was invited to the U18 training camp in May after scoring the winning goal in the U.S. U17 team’s final victory in the 2024 Concacaf Women’s U17 Championship. With 12 freshmen, it is Georgia’s largest incoming class since 14 joined for the 2021 season. The large influx of talent also creates a notable age gap in teammates, with birth dates ranging from May 2002 to July 2008.
It’s a Keeper
With the unfortunate loss of senior goalkeeper Jordan Brown for the season due to injury, Georgia will be turning to a new netminder for the first time in three seasons. Freshman Hannah Folliard reclassified from the class of 2026 to this season and will be a top candidate for the starting job. Folliard recently attended the USYNT U17 training camp and is a contender for this year’s U.S. U17 World Cup roster. She previously served as an alternate for the Concacaf U17 Championship. Redshirt freshman Nicole Bidun made her Georgia debut on Sunday, facing zero shots in the second half. Freshman Victoria Saah will also look to earn some playing time in the early part of the season.
Strong Slate
Throughout his early tenure in Athens, Keidane McAlpine has made it a point to challenge his team with a difficult schedule. This year’s schedule proved to be no different, with Georgia facing five opponents ranked in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, along with three schools receiving votes. North Carolina marks the fourth consecutive season in which Georgia has faced the defending national champion in the regular season. In conference play, the Bulldogs will take on three of the SEC’s top five preseason squads: Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee.
Dawg Bites
Date: Thursday, Aug. 21
Time: 6:30 p.m. EDT
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Turner Soccer Complex (1,682)
MEDIA INFORMATION
Stream: SEC Network+ (Jeff Dantzler, PxP / Mollie Belisle, 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: North Carolina leads 6-0-0
In Athens: First Meeting
In Chapel Hill: North Carolina leads 3-0-0
Neutral: North Carolina leads 3-0-0
Last Meeting: North Carolina – W, 4-3 (Aug. 22, 2024 – Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Current Streak: L6
GF / GA: 4 / 27
QUICK KICKS
Here Come the Heels
For the first time in program history, Georgia welcomes the nation’s winningest program, No. 12/6 North Carolina, to the Turner Soccer Complex Thursday. North Carolina opened the season with the No. 1 ranking, but was upset by Tennessee, 2-0, last Thursday in Knoxville. The Tar Heels rebounded with a 5-0 defeat of Siena on Sunday. Thursday’s match marks the fourth-consecutive year in which Georgia has faced the defending national champion (Florida State – 2022, 2024; UCLA – 2023).
The first six meetings in the series, all UNC victories, were played in either Chapel Hill or Durham, including a pair of NCAA Tournament contests. Despite the winless record against the Tar Heels, the Bulldogs have been more competitive in two meetings under Keidane McAlpine, scoring their first-ever goal in the series during the 2022 NCAA Second Round match. Last season, Georgia pushed the eventual national champions in a 4-3 loss, with Hannah White scoring a pair of highlight reel goals in the defeat. McAlpine is 1-4 all-time against North Carolina with his lone win coming in his 2016 national title season at USC.
Down Goes the Danes
Georgia earned its first win of the season Sunday with a dominant 6-0 victory over UAlbany, matching last season’s largest margin of victory. The Bulldogs outshot the Great Danes, 34-1, not allowing a shot on goal for the first time since a 3-0 win at Florida on Sept. 25, 2022, while allowing the fewest shots by an opponent since a 4-0 defeat of Binghamton on Aug. 25, 2019. After a series of close misses in the opening minutes, Summer Denigan opened the scoring as she played off her crossbar miss for the first goal of the day. UAlbany kept the score in check for most of the first half before a pair of own goals in the final 90 seconds broke open the score. The Great Danes were the first opponent in program history to post two own goals in the same match. In the second half, Kiera Staude scored the second goal of her Bulldog career, while Juliauna Hayward and Lily Kate Elphick both knotted their first goals in a Georgia uniform.
Bruin Battle
Georgia turned in a valiant effort in its season opener Thursday, dropping a 1-0 decision to No. 8 UCLA before 1,501 spectators at Turner Soccer Complex. The Bulldogs started seven new players, including three freshmen (Hannah Folliard, Maddy Herniter, and Mya Townes). The 17-year-old Folliard, who reclassified from the class of 2026, made an impressive debut in net with six saves, only allowing a goal by Bella Winn in the 66th minute. Herniter was one of two field players (Assa Kante) to play all 90 minutes, anchoring the back line in her collegiate debut, while Townes nearly notched her first career goal with a long strike that caromed off the crossbar. Senior defender Cate Hardin tallied a career-high six shots to lead all players, including a tremendous look at an equalizer that was blocked in the final minute of play.
New Faces
Georgia enters the 2025 season with one of the largest roster turnovers in program history, welcoming back only 11 letterwinners along with 18 freshmen and transfers. In the process, the Bulldogs have gone from a roster with seven graduate players in 2024 to 12 first-year athletes in 2025. The transfer class is led by graduate defender Laila Booker, a three-time All-Ivy League performer at Yale, who was ranked 79th in TopDrawerSoccer’s Top 100 Player Rankings. The transfers also include LSU veteran forward Sage Glover, All-Big 12 midfielder Juliauna Hayward (Colorado), and Big 12 champion Assa Kante (Kansas).
On the freshman front, USYNT members Mya Townes and Hannah Folliard highlight an esteemed class which also includes Mexican youth national teamers Hailey Gordon and Ava Stack. Townes was invited to the U18 training camp in May after scoring the winning goal in the U.S. U17 team’s final victory in the 2024 Concacaf Women’s U17 Championship. With 12 freshmen, it is Georgia’s largest incoming class since 14 joined for the 2021 season. The large influx of talent also creates a notable age gap in teammates, with birth dates ranging from May 2002 to July 2008.
It’s a Keeper
With the unfortunate loss of senior goalkeeper Jordan Brown for the season due to injury, Georgia will be turning to a new netminder for the first time in three seasons. Freshman Hannah Folliard reclassified from the class of 2026 to this season and will be a top candidate for the starting job. Folliard recently attended the USYNT U17 training camp and is a contender for this year’s U.S. U17 World Cup roster. She previously served as an alternate for the Concacaf U17 Championship. Redshirt freshman Nicole Bidun made her Georgia debut on Sunday, facing zero shots in the second half. Freshman Victoria Saah will also look to earn some playing time in the early part of the season.
Strong Slate
Throughout his early tenure in Athens, Keidane McAlpine has made it a point to challenge his team with a difficult schedule. This year’s schedule proved to be no different, with Georgia facing five opponents ranked in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, along with three schools receiving votes. North Carolina marks the fourth consecutive season in which Georgia has faced the defending national champion in the regular season. In conference play, the Bulldogs will take on three of the SEC’s top five preseason squads: Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee.
Dawg Bites
- Under Keidane McAlpine, Georgia has continued to raise the program’s profile and achieve new heights of success, highlighted by the 2023 SEC Tournament championship and NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. The Bulldogs have won SEC Tournament matches for three straight seasons for the first time in program history. They have also hosted NCAA First Round matches in three straight years for the first time as well.
- Graduate defender Laila Booker led the Georgia backline in her Bulldog debut, holding UCLA to only seven shots on goal while playing 88 minutes. During her career at Yale, Booker played a full match on 37 occasions, including a nine-match streaking stretching from the end of the 2023 season to the beginning of 2024.
- The Bulldogs’ increased success has expanded the recruiting footprint of the program, resulting in a roster full of geographic diversity in 2025. This season’s team features players from 13 different states and three nations, the largest number of states represented in program history. The Dawgs still feature 11 players from Georgia, one of the country’s deepest talent pools.
Up Next
Georgia continues its five-match homestand to start the season with a matchup against Michigan on Sunday, Aug. 24 at 12 p.m. Prior to the match, seven Bulldog seniors will be recognized in the annual Senior Day ceremony. Admission is free for all fans, and the match will stream live on SEC Network+.
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Promotion: Thursday is Lilo & Stitch Night at Turner Soccer Complex. The first 500 fans will receive a free Lilo & Stitch T-shirt at halftime. Additionally, Thursday is the first Community Dawg Day, powered by Georgia Power. The first 100 fans 12 and under will receive a voucher for a post-match meet and greet with senior Maddie Baker, redshirt sophomore Virginia Odom, and freshmen Lily Kate Elphick and Maddy Herniter.
Free Admission: All matches at Turner Soccer Complex are free. No tickets are required for admission.
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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