The Red and Black

Issue date: 7/17/09 Section: Sports

Georgia will play eight games against 2008 NCAA Tournament teams including home contests against Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina as its 2009 soccer schedule was announced Thursday. Games against non-conference opponents Minnesota, Charlotte and Clemson also highlight the schedule.

Georgia plays its first six games at the UGA Soccer Stadium including the first three against Kennesaw State (Aug. 21), Minnesota (Aug. 28) and Mercer (Aug. 30). The Bulldogs will again play host to the Georgia Nike Invitational with games against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 4 and Northeastern on Sept. 6. Georgia closes out the homestand against Georgia State on Sept. 11 then hits the road for six straight games against Charlotte (Sept. 13), Clemson (Sept. 18), LSU (Sept. 25), Arkansas (Sept. 27), Kentucky (Oct. 2) and Vanderbilt (Oct. 4).

Georgia returns home to face Ole Miss (Oct. 9), Mississippi State (Oct. 11), South Carolina (Oct. 16), Florida (Oct. 18) and Alabama (Oct. 22) then travels to Auburn on Oct. 25. The Bulldogs will play Tennessee in the regular season home finale on Oct. 30.

"We are very excited about the opportunities before us and feel we have put together a challenging schedule for this fall," Georgia coach Patrick Baker said. "The team is looking forward to 12 home games throughout both the non-conference and SEC schedule. The non-conference opponents will prepare us for conference play and we are playing a number teams from the Southeast region. Kennesaw State, Mercer and Georgia State will be our in-state opponents this fall and it's nice to be playing Clemson in the regular season. Our Nike Tournament will bring Florida Atlantic and Northeastern to Athens and should make for a fantastic weekend of soccer."

The SEC Tournament will again be held in Orange Beach, Ala., Nov. 4-8. Georgia has advanced to the title game in each of the last two seasons.

"The SEC continues to get more and more competitive with six teams from our conference receiving NCAA Tournament bids last year," Baker said. "I feel this year will be one of the best for our conference and it should be an exciting race to see who wins the regular season crown."

Georgia returns nine starters from last year's team that finished second in the SEC including seniors Carrie Patterson (8g, 5a), Michelle Betos (1.19 GAA, .807 Save Pct., 7 SO) and sophomores Ashley Miller (5g, 1a) and Jamie Pollock (2g, 1a). Patterson is first in school history with 84 career points and is tied for first with 33 goals.


2009 GEORGIA SOCCER SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 Kennesaw State Athens 7 p.m.
Aug. 28 Minnesota Athens 7 p.m.
Aug. 30 Mercer Athens 1 p.m.
Sept. 4 Florida Atlantic% Athens 7 p.m.
Sept. 6 Northeastern% Athens 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 11 Georgia State Athens 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 at Charlotte Charlotte, N.C. 1 p.m.
Sept. 18 at Clemson Clemson, S.C. 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 at LSU* Baton Rouge, La. 8 p.m.
Sept. 27 at Arkansas* Fayetteville, Ark. 2 p.m.
Oct. 2 at Kentucky* Lexington, Ky. 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Vanderbilt* Nashville, Tenn. 3 p.m.
Oct. 9 Ole Miss* Athens 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 Mississippi State* Athens 1 p.m.
Oct. 16 South Carolina* Athens 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 Florida* Athens 1 p.m.
Oct. 22 Alabama* Athens 7 p.m.
Oct. 25 at Auburn* Auburn, Ala. 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 30 Tennessee* Athens 7 p.m.
Nov. 4-8 SEC Tournament Orange Beach, Ala. TBA
Nov. 13 & 15 NCAA 1st/2nd Rounds TBA TBA
Nov. 20-22 NCAA Third Round TBA TBA
Nov. 27-28 NCAA Quarterfinals TBA TBA
Dec. 4 & 6 NCAA Final Four TBA TBA

*SEC game
% Georgia Nike Invitational: Friday: Clemson vs. Northeastern @ 4:30 followed by Georgia vs. Florida Atlantic
Sunday: Clemson vs. Florida Atlantic @ 11:00 followed by Georgia vs. Northeastern
All times Eastern.

- Georgia Sports Communications

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