2008 Woodie Awards
Tough test awaits Lady Dogs
CHANDLER COFFEE
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This match marks the first time in program history that Georgia has faced a top-ranked opponent.
It also will be the first time that Georgia has faced North Carolina, which has won 17 national championships.
In a meeting with players Thursday, head coach Sue Montagne-Patberg impressed upon her team that the pressure was on the defending national champion Tarheels.
"We have nothing to lose," Patberg said. "They have this great tradition of being a perennial powerhouse to live up to every game."
Junior defender Carolyn Cayard said the team will be nervous when it takes the field, but they know what they have to do to compete.
"We have to play quickly and move the ball around," Cayard said. "We are going to have to work hard for 90 minutes because we know they will."
Georgia could be without forward Jessica Winton and midfielder Andrea Velasco Friday, according to Patberg.
"For us, it's just a matter of moving some players around," Patberg said. "I think everybody is excited to play and ready to play. There are just going to be some players playing out of position."
The team will have to pick up the slack in the absence of Winton and Velasco as they face North Carolina's trademark relentless pressure.
"They'll be the most physical team we play," said freshman midfielder/forward Elizabeth Metherell.
Metherell said the Bulldogs were somewhat intimidated when they lost to Connecticut 2-0 Sept. 9.
Patberg addressed the possibility of her team being intimidated by North Carolina in the team meeting Wednesday.
"What I expect of my players is to go out on the field and compete," Patberg said. "I want us to play to win."
In order to pull off the upset, the Lady Bulldogs will have to do something no other team has done against the Tarheels this season -- score a goal.
North Carolina is 3-0 on the season, defeating eighth-ranked Penn State and No. 20 Texas on its way to a 3-0 start.
After tonight's match, the team will make a short trip to Durham to
take on Duke Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. The meeting is the first
between the programs.
