It’s been nearly nine months since the Georgia women’s soccer team ended its 2008 season in a disappointing 1-0 loss to James Madison in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Any player will tell you that that defeat was a particularly tough pill to swallow. After rebounding from a winless month in September and a grueling out of conference schedule to rattle off wins in 8 of their last 10 SEC matches, the Bulldogs season was cut short by an unfortunate 57th minute James Madison goal that was actually kicked in by Georgia.

“We feel like we had so much taken from us last year,” said senior goalkeeper and captain Michelle Betos. “We got to that last game and then to lose on an own goal, I think that just left such a bitter taste in our mouths.”

Fortunately, the Bulldogs have found a way to translate any lingering disappointment into motivation, which spells bad news for any opponents standing in their way.

“I feel bad for the teams who come up against us because we’re just going to take it all out on them and have the kind of season we’ve been talking about,” Betos said.

Most of this year’s squad remembers the pain caused by last season’s defeat, as the Bulldogs return 8 seniors and 5 juniors, including senior captain and unanimous preseason All-SEC forward selection, Carrie Patterson.

“We got there [SEC Championship] last year and the year before and just didn’t seal the deal, so this time I know that’s my main goal and I know my teammates are on the same page,” said Patterson.

If the Bulldogs do make another SEC championship run, leadership from the seniors will be crucial.

“One of the things that I think got us through some tough times last year was our leadership,” said assistant coach Steve Nugent. “That leadership is back with Carrie Patterson and Michelle Betos as our captains.”

Despite the abrupt end to their 2008 season, the rest of the nation seems to be taking notice of the Bulldogs, evidenced by their ranking of 18th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America preseason poll.

“Having a preseason top 20 ranking is an honor but it also means that we’ve got a target on our backs,” said redshirt freshman defender Jenna Buckley. “We have to work that much harder to keep our spot and keep improving.”

Working hard is exactly what the Bulldogs have been doing all preseason, according to Nugent.

“The kids came in excited and killed the fitness test,” Nugent said. “From that point on we’ve been working really, really hard and the energy’s been incredible.”

The Bulldogs allowed a miniscule 1.26 goals per game last year. You can also expect a stingy defense this season with the return of defensive anchor Natalie Farley from a stress fracture injury in addition to veteran defenders Bailey Powell and Leslie McConnell.

“Defending is something that we always harp on and I think we take a lot of pride in our goals against,” said Betos, who returns to her position in net for the Bulldogs. “We’re always at the bottom of that bracket.”

When the Bulldogs kick off the season this Friday at 7 p.m. at the Turner Soccer Complex in Athens against in-state foe Kennesaw State, “you can expect to see a very aggressive team that’s very creative in the attacking third,” said Nugent.

The all important SEC schedule gets underway Sept. 25, as the Bulldogs face a tough test against LSU in Baton Rouge.