The Red and Black

Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: ILANA MCQUINN Sophomore forward Carrie Patterson of Atlanta goes head-to-head with Florida's freshman goalie Meghan Berlingo Friday. [Click to enlarge]

It's hard to determine which was the bigger accomplishment for Georgia soccer this weekend - beating No. 15 Florida for the first time in school history, or responding two days later by winning against 12th-ranked South Carolina. That win marked the first time since 1997 that Georgia has defeated top-25 teams in back-to-back games.

Friday night's match with Florida (4-4-2, 0-2) began similar to both games last year. Georgia (9-1, 2-0) went ahead early on a goalkeeper miscue that netted sophomore Carrie Patterson her fifth goal of the season.

In minute 19, junior Megan Tomlinson found freshman Marah Falle on a breakaway and sent it over the goalkeeper for the Bulldogs' second goal.

Florida responded in the second half, outshooting Georgia 11 to 3. Senior Stacy Bishop put the Gators on the board in minute 59. Yet Florida couldn't find the equalizer. When senior Joni Vickers cleared a corner kick in the final 10 seconds to secure the win, the Bulldogs rushed the field to celebrate a 2-1 win.

"There were just so many things that were rushing through your head," said Vickers, the team captain. "I told myself that this is my last season. They are not going to get a goal. We are not going to overtime. And we just cleared it out."

Sunday, Georgia scored late to force overtime and netted a golden goal to defeat South Carolina (8-3, 0-2).

For much of the afternoon, Georgia looked sluggish compared to the creative play of the Gamecocks. Although South Carolina moved the ball effectively in the first half, the game remained scoreless.

After a corner kick by the Bulldogs in minute 49, South Carolina counterattacked. Senior Darcel Mollon took the ball near midfield, moved past two Georgia defenders and beat goalkeeper Michelle Betos. It took the one-goal deficit for the Bulldogs to come to life.

After switching to a 4-3-3 lineup, freshman Caroline Simpson lofted a ball over South Carolina's defense towards Falle. With the Gamecocks' goalkeeper racing towards the ball, Falle tapped the ball past her to tie the match at one in minute 78.

With just over three minutes left in a second overtime, Simpson connected on a loose ball for the game-winning goal.

"It's so awesome to beat Florida for the first time," said Simpson. "Yet, it's so important to get the win here today and move to 2-0 in the SEC. It proves to us as a team and to others that it wasn't just a lucky game against Florida."

The 9-1 record is the best start in Georgia's 13-year history.

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