By: by Jessica Steadman
Box Score
ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia’s Carrie Patterson became the all-time leading scorer at Georgia after scoring three goals as the Owls fell to the Bulldogs, 6-0, on Friday night at the UGA Soccer Stadium.
Georgia (1-0) took a quick lead after Patterson scored the first of her three goals just 44 seconds into the game with an assist from Leslie McConnell. The senior forward scored again in the 22nd minute to put Georgia up by two goals after Alex Hooker intercepted a Kennesaw State pass, crossed it to Patterson for the tap in from the far left corner.
“We gave up an early goal in the first minute and then tried to chase the game,” said Kennesaw State head coach Rob King. “They are a good side, well coached with a great deal of depth.”
The KSU defense regrouped and blocked several Georgia shots in front of the goal and Staci Pugh was able to keep the Owls close until the 32nd minute as Bulldog defender, Natalie Farley, scored on a loose ball from outside the box to put UGA up by three goals at halftime.
The Owls (0-1) took their first shot of the game with under a minute left in the half when sophomore Shelby Cosby sailed a shot from the left side which was stopped by UGA keeper, Michelle Betos. The Owls ended the game with just two shots on goal.
The Georgia offense did not let up in the second half as Jamie Pollock made the score, 4-0, after sending a goal into the bottom left corner of the net off a cross from Rebekah Perry.
Kennesaw State freshman, Bridie Fox, nearly gave the Owls a goal when her shot attempt scooted by a diving Betos and Brittany Vining’s rebound was stopped by the UGA defense.
Georgia added a pair of late goals to make the score 6-0 and hand Kennesaw State its second Opening Night defeat in three years.
“All the credit to Georgia. They scored at all the right times and we were well beaten” added King. “There is a lot of learning that should come from tonight’s match and I’m sure we’ll recover well.”
The Owls will be back in action on Sunday evening when they play the Mexico National Team in an international friendly beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the KSU Soccer Complex. General admission tickets are $14.00 and parking for the event is $5.00.
