Womens College update: Georgia soccer readies to face South Carolina in the SEC tournament Wednesday

Georgia soccer readies to face South Carolina in the SEC tournament Wednesday

Taylor Craig Sutton

Georgia Soccer versus Texas A&M

Georgia forward Lauren Tanner (3) and defender Emma Sonnett (33) celebrate after scoring a goal during an NCAA soccer game in Athens, Ga., on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013. (Photo/ Taylor Craig Sutton, Taylorcraigsutton@gmail.com)

Sammy O'Brien

The Georgia soccer team (12-6-1, 5-5-1) reached Orange Beach, Ala. Monday, to begin prepare for the SEC Tournament Nov. 6-10 at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.

The Bulldogs come into the tournament with a No. 6 seed, and received a first-round bye for the accomplishment. Georgia takes on No. 3 seed South Carolina Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. ET in the quarterfinal match.

This marks Georgia’s eighth trip to Orange Beach where it’s record is 10-14-1, with a total of three trips to the finals — most recently in 2008. Georgia has never won the tournament.

The Bulldogs face South Carolina (15-2-2, 8-2-1) first. On Sept. 20, Georgia gave the Gamecocks it’s first loss of the season in a 2-0 defeat in Athens.

South Carolina is coming off a strong season with a perfect home record of 10-0. The Gamecocks ended the regular season ranked 10th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll and No. 17th in the RPI. The team is lead by leading goal scorer Raina Johnson with eight goals, and goal keeper Sabrina D’Angelo with 10 shutouts.

Georgia ended its season with strong statistics both as a whole and individually. The defense put up a goals-against average of 0.930, ranking third in the SEC, and the shutout percentage of 0.579 landed the Bulldog’s first in the conference. Freshman striker Marion Crowder’s 11 goals was good for seventh in the conference, while her 23 points stood for 10th in the SEC. Close behind, senior Madeline Barker ranked 15th in the SEC for her 19 points.

The winner of Georgia vs. South Carolina will take on the winner of Texas A&M vs. either No. 7 LSU/No. 10 Auburn in Friday’s semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Live video can be streamed on the SEC Digital Network during the early rounds, but the semifinals will air on ESPN3, and the final will be on ESPNU on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. ET.

The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Georgia will not know its fate in the field of 64 until the announcements are made Monday, Nov. 11 at 4:30 p.m.