Denigan propels Georgia soccer to first win of 2024 season

The No. 16-ranked Georgia soccer team picked up its first win of the 2024 season Sunday after shutting out Kennesaw State 6-0. Redshirt sophomore Summer Denigan led the way for the Bulldogs with three goals in the match, which was Georgia’s first hat trick since 2018.

It was senior day for the Bulldogs, and so the first goal fittingly came from graduate student Margie Detrizo ten minutes into the match. Detrizo added another goal less than a minute later for her fifth career brace, and from then on, the blowout was officially on.

“Overall, we set a marker down with the seniors,” head coach Keidane McAlpine said. “The seniors were not happy with our performance against North Carolina, and they asked for more out of their teammates. And today was the day that they could go out and show the way with so many of them starting the game.”

The seniors certainly got plenty of help from their younger teammates in this one, particularly from Denigan. Her first goal of the match came in the 30th minute, and she returned less than 10 minutes later with another that put the Bulldogs up 4-0 going into the half. After she converted a penalty kick in the 84th minute, Denigan secured the first hat trick for Georgia soccer since Reagan Glisson in 2018.

“Today was all for the seniors and we all played for them,” Denigan said. “Everyone was on the same page, and we can be confident moving forward. I think this was a good win for our team.”

Denigan and Detrizo are the first pair of Georgia teammates to each score multiple goals in the same game since the Bulldogs defeated Wofford in 2021, also on senior day. Freshman Sophia Brelage joined in on the scoring as well, securing her first collegiate goal in the 81st minute. On defense, goalkeeper Jordan Brown recorded two saves en route to her 13th career solo shutout.

Georgia’s challenging early-season schedule will continue on Thursday with a road matchup against Florida State, who is currently the No.1 ranked team in the country. The match will stream on ACC Network Extra.