On Friday, the Georgia men’s and women’s lacrosse teams were in action in round-robin tournaments outside the Classic City. Both Red and Black clubs entered the weekend undefeated, but, although the two teams’ matches ended in identical final scores, only one of them stayed unbeaten.
The No. 1-ranked Athenian ladies flew cross-country to take on an East Coast opponent at the UCSB Shootout in Santa Barbara at noon Pacific time. Despite solid defensive efforts by defenders Kelly "Dale" Arnhart, Michele "Meesh" Manis, and Mary Cate "MC" McCue, as well as by goalie Emily Seidel, and despite goals from rookie midfielder Cat Brennen, midfielder Lindsay Brinker, rookie attacker Jenna Dreyer, attacker Murphy Ferguson, midfielder Lisa "Avatar" Riondet, and attacker Kaitlin Shumate, Georgia fell to No. 69 Pittsburgh, 9-7, in the tourney’s opening outing. The Red and Black women will attempt to get back on the winning track against No. 5 UCLA and No. 21 Michigan on Saturday.
The 40th-ranked Bulldog men were in action in the Southern Shootout in Tallahassee on Friday evening, when they faced 31st-ranked border rival South Carolina in the Sunshine State while sporting new gear. Though not as transformed by their new togs as their distaff counterparts, the Red and Black gents mounted a second-half comeback to replicate the women’s 9-7 score, albeit in the right direction this time. Saturday will see Georgia confront tournament host Florida State, the seventh-ranked defending SELC champion.
Go ‘Dawgs!