FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UGA SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS
Oct. 4, 2009

NASHVILLE – The No. 21 Georgia soccer team wrapped up a 5-1 road swing and a 2-0 weekend, defeating the SEC rival Vanderbilt Commodores by a 3-0 count on Sunday afternoon in steady rain at the Soccer/Lacrosse Complex in Nashville. The Bulldogs got goals from Natalie Farley, Caroline Simpson, and Alex Hooker on the day.

Georgia has now won by at least three goals on four occasions, with today marking the fifth time this season the Bulldogs have scored at least three goals in a game.

Georgia improves to 10-1-1 (3-1-0 SEC) to tie the best 12-game start in program history, tying the 2007 squad that posted the same record through its first dozen games. With the loss, Vanderbilt drops to 7-4-1 (1-3-0).

Georgia has gone a staggering 11-2-2 in SEC road contests dating back to 2007.

“We beat a very good Vanderbilt team today and were fortunate early not to be behind,” said head coach Patrick Baker. “The team got better as the game went on and Farley’s goal was a great commitment by a back to get forward and join the attack.”

“We defended and possessed better in the second half, and for all of the corners we garner, Simpson’s header was buried off a well-driven service from Corless. At that point they changed their system and we bent defensively, but never broke. Back-to-back road wins in the SEC are hard to come by and I couldn’t be more proud of our players.”

It was Vanderbilt that saw the first real scoring chance of the game eight minutes in, when Molly Kinsella was fed the ball just onsides and flicked it past keeper Michelle Betos leaving the goal unguarded. But Kinsella’s empty-net offering hit the side, letting the Bulldogs off the hook.

Georgia countered with its own chance with 35:30 remaining in the first, as Carrie Patterson took a pass from Marah Falle in the center, but the senior fired high of the goal resulting in a Vanderbilt goal kick.

With just under 22 minutes to play in the opening frame, it appeared the Bulldogs had netted the go-ahead when Ashley Miller chipped the ball over Commodore keeper Rachel Bachtel’s head from the right corner of the box, but Miller was called offsides on the play.

Georgia got on the board at the 11:29 mark in the first half, when Farley carried the ball from her spot in the back and worked it over to Miller in the midfield. Farley then found open space in front and Miller threaded a perfect pass back to her on the right side, where Farley let loose on the shot that ducked under the post for the 1-0 UGA advantage.

It was the second goal of the year for Farley, who also scored against the Commodores last season.

Vanderbilt had three scoring opportunities in the final 1:30 of the half, but Betos and the defense prevented the equalizer and the score remained 1-0 in favor of the Bulldogs at the intermission.

Both keepers played strong first halves, with Bachtel notching fives and Betos four through the first 45:00.

Georgia got its second goal off a corner kick with 25:16 showing on the clock in the second half, when Kelli Corless stepped in to take it and sent a perfect ball into the middle. Just subbed into the game seconds earlier, Simpson fired a header past Bachtel for her first goal of the year and gave the Bulldogs the 2-0 advantage.

It moved to 3-0 in favor of UGA with 11:13 left, following a Georgia throw-in, when Patterson flicked a quick pass over to Hooker on the left for a one-touch past the keeper. The goal was Hooker’s second of the weekend after she netted the game-winner Friday at Kentucky in the 84th minute of action.

Patterson’s assists was the 22nd of her career, moving her just one away from the school record of 23 held by Suzannah Weathersbee.

Through the final five minutes, the UGA defense was relentless is keeping Vandy away from the goal to preserve the shutout. After also holding Arkansas and Kentucky scoreless in their last two outings, the Bulldogs earned back-to-back-to-back shutouts in SEC play for the first time in program history.

For the third straight game, Baker deployed a lineup that included three freshmen starters in Dennis, Laura Eddy, and Rebekah Perry. Dennis, a native of nearby Franklin, Tenn., got the chance to play close to home on Sunday, while her older sister, Sarah, is a former member of the Commodores women’s soccer team.

The Bulldogs are now 8-9-0 all-time against Vanderbilt and pulled to an even 4-4 when playing in Nashville. In the Baker era, since 2005, the Bulldogs are 4-1 against the Commodores and UGA has now won the last three meetings.

“This is definitely a huge win,” said Farley. “Obviously we prepared all week to play better than we did last weekend and this was a huge turnaround. This weekend gives us six crucial points in the SEC and something we will build off of when we go play at home next weekend.”

Today marked Vanderbilt’s first home loss and first time being shut out this year.

Georgia once again had its opponent’s number in the shot column, edging Vandy 18-13 there while taking one more corner kick (5-4).

Betos earned her sixth shutout in goal and overall it was Georgia’s eighth. Betos ended with six saves.

The Bulldogs will return home for five straight games at the UGA Soccer Complex, beginning with Ole Miss on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. That game will televised on Fox Sports South.