ATHENS-----For the third straight year, the Georgia soccer team earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and will face UNC Wilmington Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel Hill Regional.

It marks the first time in school history the Bulldogs have advanced to three straight NCAA Tournaments. Georgia went to two straight NCAA Tournaments in 1997 and 1998, then again in 2007 and 2008. The other two trips came in 2001 and 2003. The 1998 team advanced to the third round - Georgia’s best run in the NCAA Tournament.

“We’re excited,” head coach Patrick Baker said. “Chapel Hill is a site where there is so much women’s college soccer history. I’ve taken many teams there from my days at Florida State, and we know there is going to be an unbelievable environment. UNC Wilmington is a conference champion and has been on a great run here the last two or three weeks. We have to get pretty familiar with them as quickly as possible.”

Should Georgia win on Friday, it will face the winner of North Carolina and High Point Sunday at 1 p.m. The Tar Heels are one of the four No. 1 seeds in the tournament. Ticket information will be announced on Tuesday.

“This is the first year since we’ve been at Georgia that we are in the NCAA Tournament and didn’t play in the conference championship game,” Baker said. “It’s been a little different with the preparation time, but we are rested, a little healthier, and we are definitely motivated going into the NCAA Tournament this year.”

Georgia enters the tournament with a 14-5-1 record. The Bulldogs were 7-4-0 in SEC play, marking the first time in program history the team has posted a winning conference record in three straight seasons.

UNC Wilmington enters the NCAA Tournament with a 13-7-1 record and on a five-game winning streak. The Seahawks claimed the Colonial Athletic Association title on Sunday and tied the school’s single-season wins record.

The NCAA Tournament first round matchups will be held Friday with the second round games scheduled for Sunday. This is Georgia’s sixth overall bid to the tournament, where the team holds a record of 4-6-1.

“I don’t think I can put into words how excited we are to be in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year,” junior defender Kelli Corless said. “We weren’t sure this year where we were going and who we would play, so it added more excitement. It didn’t matter where we went, we’re just excited to have a shot at it. Everyone in the tournament is going to be good. I think we’ll be ready to play.”

The NCAA Tournament field was made up of the 30 conference tournament champions and 34 at-large teams, making up the field of 64. The tournament will culminate with the Final Four in College Station, Texas, on Dec. 4 and a national champion being crowned on Dec. 6.