Georgia Bulldog soccer, equestrian, and tennis teams bring some sunshine
There was some sunshine during a stormy football weekend for Dawg fans as the Georgia Bulldog soccer, equestrian, and tennis teams continue to excel.
Soccer
The Georgia soccer team (5-1-1, 0-0-1 SEC) rode into the number 24 spot in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) weekly poll on the wave of a four-game winning streak. The streak included three consecutive shutouts and it is the first NSCAA ranking of the year for the Dawg futbol-ers.
UCLA is number 1, followed by Virginia Tech, Virginia, Stanford, Florida State, Texas Tech, Florida, Penn State, North Carolina, and Cal. Georgia is one of four Southeastern Conference teams ranked this week, joining the Gators as well as Texas A&M (11) and South Carolina (14).
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In Sunday’s match against Furman, Georgia sophomore Marion Crowder scored twice, including the game-winner in the 15th minute. Both Gabby Seiler and Rachel Garcia had two assists in the game. Louise Hogrell made five saves in goal vs. the Paladins and delivered four shutouts in 2014. Seiler has tallied at least one point in all seven of Georgia’s games – the longest such streak since 2011.
Georgia is on the pitch next Sunday afternoon, hosting Vanderbilt at the UGA Soccer Stadium in a 3 p.m. contest televised on the brand new SEC Network.
Equestrian
The University of Georgia equestrian team is ranked preseason number 1 by the National Collegiate Equestrian Association. The Dawg riders claimed their sixth NCEA National Championship in 2014, more than any other NCEA team.
Georgia returns 18 riders who saw significant time in the arena last season, including three All-Americans, four All-Southeastern Conference riders, and five SEC All-Freshman. Georgia also returns the NCEA Most Valuable Player in Equitation on the Flat and Equitation Over Fences, as well as the SEC Rider of the Year in Equitation on the Flat and the SEC Freshmen of the Year in Flat, Fences and Reining.
Other conference teams ranked are South Carolina at number 2, Auburn number 4 and Texas A&M will start its season ranked eighth.
Georgia opens the season Sept. 20 when it hosts its annual Red and Black Scrimmage at 4 p.m., at the UGA Equestrian Complex in Bishop, Ga. The regular-season gets underway Oct. 3 at 2 p.m., when the Bulldogs travel to South Carolina.
Tennis
The University of Georgia women’s tennis team dominated the UNC-Wilmington Beach Blast as the Bulldogs lost only one match in the three-day affair. Every win came in straight sets and the Dawgs gave up no more than three points in any doubles set.
“It was good to see some freshmen playing doubles for the first time and having some success,” said assistant coach Drake Bernstein to Georgiadogs.com on Saturday. “We thought they looked really good. Everybody continued to look good in singles as well and we look forward to finishing strong tomorrow.”
The Dawgs did finish strong, not losing on Sunday.
Georgia tennis freshman Wayne Montgomery defeated Oklahoma’s Alex Ghilea, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2, to win the Southern Intercollegiate Championships singles title Monday morning at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. As reported in Dawn of the Dawg, Montgomery’s tournament run included a win over the current national number 3 ranked collegiate player.