After a historic week of back-to-back shutouts against No. 12 North Carolina and Michigan, junior midfielder Summer Denigan and freshman forward Lily Kate Elphick received SEC weekly honors for their game-winning performances.
The league office named Denigan as SEC Offensive Player of the Week and Elphick as SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday morning.
On Thursday, Denigan and Elphick were the key components in Georgia’s 2-0 win over North Carolina, the reigning champions. In the 51st minute, Denigan crashed the net, deflecting in the winning goal. 20 minutes later, the Kentucky native assisted Elphick’s first college goal, a fierce left-footed hook from inside the 18, sealing the Bulldog’s first-ever victory over the Tar Heels.
Denigan scored twice, including her third consecutive match winner, in a 3-0 victory over Michigan on Sunday. Her first goal came from a powerful boot from 25 yards out to put the Bulldogs on the board in the first half. Early in the second half, she scored a header off a service from teammate BK Harris. This week, Denigan tallied seven total points with three goals and one assist.
Elphick has started her college career off strong by clinching the historic victory for Georgia against North Carolina. In the freshman’s first four appearances as a Bulldog, the Roswell, Georgia, native had only two shots, but both resulted in long-distance goals.
Denigan, Elphick and the rest of the Georgia soccer team will conclude their five-match, season-opening homestand Thursday against North Florida at 6:30 p.m. at the Turner Soccer Complex.
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