No. 4-seed Bulldogs advance with 3-2 win
Nov. 17, 2023 3:19 pm, Updated: Nov. 17, 2023 3:36 pm
Iowa and Georgia combined for six shots in the first half of Friday’s NCAA women’s soccer tournament second-round game. They nearly equaled that number in goals in the second 45 minutes, but the fifth-seeded Hawkeyes could never grab the lead and saw their season end with a 3-2 defeat at Clemson’s Historic Riggs Field.
Fourth-seeded Georgia’s first lead didn’t last three minutes.
Iowa freshman Millie Greer headed in her first goal of the season on a bouncing free kick that goalkeeper Macy Enneking sent into the box from the halfway line in the 63rd minute.
But less than four minutes later, the Bulldogs regained the advantage and didn’t relinquish it again. Taylor Rish volleyed in Hanna White’s cross off the crossbar in the 66th minute to put Georgia up 2-1. Summer Denigan added a key insurance goal when she dribbled in a pass from Croix Bethune with 5:43 remaining.
Iowa kept pushing and got back within one on another headed goal, this time from Kelli McGroarty on a Eva Pattison free kick. Only 1:42 remained at that point, though, and the Hawkeyes ran out of time.
Georgia (13-4-5), the SEC tournament champion, advances to face either No. 1-seed Clemson or No. 8-seed Columbia in the round of 16 at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Iowa (13-5-4), the Big Ten tournament champion, earned its second NCAA tournament win in program history last week against Bucknell.
When Georgia’s Nicole Vernis knocked in Virginia Odom’s cross from point-blank range in the 60th minute, it marked the first goal Iowa had allowed in 418 minutes, dating back to its Big Ten tournament quarterfinal win over Michigan State.
Friday’s game was scoreless at halftime, with both teams taking three shots in the first 45 minutes.
Georgia totaled 11 shots in the game, Iowa 10.
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