No. 19 Georgia Faces No. 8 Vanderbilt in SEC Semifinals Thursday
No. 19/NR (#3 Seed) Georgia (10-3-6, 6-1-3 SEC) vs. No. 8/14 (#2 Seed) Vanderbilt (14-3-1, 7-2-1 SEC)
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 6
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Location: Pensacola, Fla.
Site: Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex
MEDIA INFORMATION
TV: SEC Network (Mike Watts, PxP / Jill Loyden, Analyst)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
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: Vanderbilt leads 15-14-2
In Athens: Tied, 7-7-1
In Nashville: Georgia leads 7-6-1
Neutral: Vanderbilt leads 2-0-0
Last Meeting: Georgia – W, 1-0 (Sept. 22, 2024 – Nashville, Tenn.)
Current Streak: W2
GF / GA: 42 / 48
QUICK KICKS
Semifinal Bound
No. 19 Georgia (No. 3 seed) faces No. 8 Vanderbilt (No. 2 seed) in the SEC Tournament semifinals Thursday, the fourth postseason meeting between the programs and first since the 2015 first round. Georgia is making its third semifinals appearance in four seasons under Keidane McAlpine, with both previous matchups going to double overtime – a PK loss to South Carolina in 2022 and a last-second winner over Texas A&M in 2023.
Both teams enter the match with long unbeaten streaks: Georgia at six straight results and Vanderbilt with seven consecutive wins. The Bulldogs and Commodores previously met in the semifinals in 2000, when Georgia prevailed, 2-1, at home in Athens. Thursday’s match marks Georgia’s first ranked-on-ranked SEC Tournament fixture since the No. 25 Bulldogs fell to No. 14 South Carolina, 3-2, in the 2009 first round.
Georgia and Vanderbilt did not face off in the regular season but have met in each of the previous three regular seasons. Following a 1-1 tie in McAlpine’s first season, the Bulldogs have won two straight. Last season, Summer Denigan scored in the 18th minute for the match’s lone score. Jordan Brown tallied nine saves to ensure the shutout victory for the Bulldogs.
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. 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: Tuesday, Nov. 6
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Location: Pensacola, Fla.
Site: Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex
MEDIA INFORMATION
TV: SEC Network (Mike Watts, PxP / Jill Loyden, Analyst)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
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: Vanderbilt leads 15-14-2
In Athens: Tied, 7-7-1
In Nashville: Georgia leads 7-6-1
Neutral: Vanderbilt leads 2-0-0
Last Meeting: Georgia – W, 1-0 (Sept. 22, 2024 – Nashville, Tenn.)
Current Streak: W2
GF / GA: 42 / 48
QUICK KICKS
Semifinal Bound
No. 19 Georgia (No. 3 seed) faces No. 8 Vanderbilt (No. 2 seed) in the SEC Tournament semifinals Thursday, the fourth postseason meeting between the programs and first since the 2015 first round. Georgia is making its third semifinals appearance in four seasons under Keidane McAlpine, with both previous matchups going to double overtime – a PK loss to South Carolina in 2022 and a last-second winner over Texas A&M in 2023.
Both teams enter the match with long unbeaten streaks: Georgia at six straight results and Vanderbilt with seven consecutive wins. The Bulldogs and Commodores previously met in the semifinals in 2000, when Georgia prevailed, 2-1, at home in Athens. Thursday’s match marks Georgia’s first ranked-on-ranked SEC Tournament fixture since the No. 25 Bulldogs fell to No. 14 South Carolina, 3-2, in the 2009 first round.
Georgia and Vanderbilt did not face off in the regular season but have met in each of the previous three regular seasons. Following a 1-1 tie in McAlpine’s first season, the Bulldogs have won two straight. Last season, Summer Denigan scored in the 18th minute for the match’s lone score. Jordan Brown tallied nine saves to ensure the shutout victory for the Bulldogs.
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. 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
- 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 has helped the Mexican U17 national team reach the semifinals of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
- 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 the LSU-Mississippi State semifinal in the SEC Tournament final on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2:30 p.m. EST on SEC Network. The Bulldogs will learn their destination for the NCAA Tournament during the Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. EST.
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