Last Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Charlotte at Transamerica Field was a statement game in many ways for the Georgia soccer team.

The win was the Bulldogs’ first on the road this season, not to mention the fact that they took down a Charlotte team that was in the second round of the NCAA tournament a year ago and had lost just once at home since 2007 prior to Sunday.

However, Sunday’s win might have meant a little bit more to one Bulldog player, who made her own statement in the form of a game-winning second-half goal.

That player was freshman midfielder Susannah Dennis. The goal, a first-time volley that dipped over the outstretched arms of the Charlotte keeper, was the first of Dennis’ collegiate career.

“To be honest, I was shocked,” Dennis said. “It was a great service from Ashley Miller and I just brought it down and hit it. I turned around, and I didn’t even know what to do; I was so excited.”

Perhaps more importantly however, that strike signaled for Dennis and her teammates that she is near the end of what has been a lengthy road to recovery.

“It felt amazing because, coming off an injury, it obviously feels good to get back on the field and to be able to contribute and score a goal,” she said.

Dennis, a Tennessee native and two-time Tennessee state player of the year, traveled to Boulder, Colo. this July to train with the U.S. Under-20 National Team. However, her training was cut short by a painful facet joint injury in her back that kept her out of commission for the remainder of camp.

“I got out there, and that’s when my back started really messing with me, and so I practiced like two practices, and then I had to stop the rest of the camp,” said Dennis. “It was still awesome to get to experience that and get to see the level of play.”

Dennis missed the first three games of the season due to the injury before making her debut for the Bulldogs Sept. 4 against Florida Atlantic. Since then, Dennis has seen her playing time increase steadily with each match, and, while she says she’s still not quite 100 percent, Sunday’s performance may have been a glimpse of things to come.

Despite measuring in at just 5-foot-4, Dennis, her teammates, and Georgia head coach Patrick Baker know that her diminutive stature won’t keep her from having a sizeable impact on the Georgia midfield this season.

“One thing that I think gets overlooked a lot of times is that she has a wonderful heading presence. I mean, she wins so many head balls,” Baker said.

“I’m just kind of that player that uses my strength to win the ball. I’m kind of short and stout I guess, but I like to be the playmaker that gets that ball through and wins the balls in the air,” Dennis said.

Dennis’ return adds some depth to the Georgia midfield, and her energy coming off the bench will be needed as the Bulldogs prepare to sink their teeth into the Southeastern Conference schedule, with the Dogs opening SEC play against LSU Sept. 25 in Baton Rouge.

“I think what makes her so dangerous in the midfield and in the air is [her attitude] that she’s not going to be beat,” sophomore defender Bailey Powell said. “She’s going to do whatever she can to win the ball, and that’s just a great quality to have, especially in an incoming freshman.”