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Olivia Sayer
Georgia forward Hannah White (50) runs with the ball during a match against Vanderbilt University at Turner Soccer Complex in Athens, Georgia on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. (Photo/ Laney Martin; @LaneyMartinPhotography)
Georgia soccer went into Chapel Hill Thursday evening with an upset on its mind. However, the No. 16 Bulldogs lost to No. 5 North Carolina 4-3 in a match where head coach Keidane McAlpine noticed a discrepancy in energy.
“To be completely honest, it was disappointing,” McAlpine said. “I didn’t think our effort and our energy met the level of the opponent.”
Georgia scored on all three attempts on frame but got outshot 19-6 in the match. Despite surrendering four goals, reigning SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week Jordan Brown recorded nine savesthe second highest of her career.
North Carolina controlled the majority of the first half, attempting nine shots and limiting Georgia to just one. In the 35th minute, Kate Faasse fired a ball to the left of a sliding Brown to open up the scoring.
Georgia tied the match in the second half when transfer Margie Detrizio lured Clare Gagne out of the goal area and snuck the ball behind her for Georgia’s first goal of the season. However, the excitement was short lived, as North Carolina’s Olivia Thomas scored twice in four minutes to give the Tar Heels a 3-1 lead.
Within a minute of Thomas’ second goal, Hannah White ripped a ball from the top of the box to cut Georgia’s deficit to one. The well-timed strike hit just to the left of Gagne, who prematurely began shifting towards the opposite end of the net. The movement left just enough space for White to drive the ball inside the post.
The Tar Heels responded in the 71st minute, using a free kick off a Georgia foul to bury the Bulldogs. White earned her second-career brace with a long-distance shot in the 90th minute, but it was not enough to overcome fifth-ranked North Carolina on its home pitch.
“There were some bright spots,” McAlpine said of the match. “Hannah’s goals were spectacular, and it leaves you understanding there was more left on the table and more we could give. It’s just disappointing that we didn’t give a better showing today because we’ve got a really good squad. We should’ve been better, but we’ll learn from this.”
The loss marked the sixth straight defeat Georgia suffered against North Carolina, and the Bulldogs have yet to beat the Tar Heels. However, Georgia tripled its goal total, as entering the match, the Bulldogs only had one score against North Carolina.
Georgia will next return home Sunday to face Kennesaw State at 4 p.m. The match will be the Bulldogs’ annual Senior Day, with seven athletes set to be recognized prior to kickoff.