UGA Soccer sets NCAA attendance record, shuts out James Madison

Staff Reports, photos by Kameron Taylor

ATHENS — Georgia soccer didn’t just make a little history Thursday night.

The Bulldogs shattered an NCAA attendance record — and then gave the record crowd plenty to celebrate.

An announced crowd of 25,433 packed Sanford Stadium to watch Georgia roll past James Madison 6-0, establishing a new NCAA Division I attendance record for a soccer match.

The crowd obliterated the previous Division I women’s record of 14,410, set in 1999, and also surpassed the men’s record of 22,512 that had stood since 1980.

“This was a major win for the University of Georgia, it was a major win for our program, it was a major win for collegiate soccer,” Georgia coach Keidane McAlpine said.

It was also the Bulldogs’ first victory of the season, and they made sure the historic crowd didn’t have to wait long for something to cheer about.

Sophomore Mya Townes scored in the eighth minute, slipping a left-footed shot past the James Madison goalkeeper to give Georgia a 1-0 lead.

The goal carried some extra meaning for Townes.

Both of her parents attended James Madison, and Townes grew up around the university before choosing to leave home and play at Georgia.

“My dad was like, ‘Who am I going to root for?’” Townes said. “I was like, ‘There’s only one right answer, but I totally understand the confusion there.’”

Townes said scoring in front of the record crowd — and seeing her parents supporting her despite their James Madison ties — made the night even more memorable.

“Just being able to really come out on top and put out a really good performance knowing that I came to the right place for me was something really, really special,” she said.

Townes’ goal was only the beginning.

Honoka Hamano scored off an assist from Emma Pettersen in the 22nd minute, and Ava Stack added another goal in the 34th to send Georgia into halftime with a commanding 3-0 advantage.

The Bulldogs kept attacking after the break.

Hamano scored her second goal of the night off a Grayson Rogers assist to record the first two-goal game of her Georgia career.

Mona Childs made it 5-0 in the 83rd minute, scoring the first goal of her collegiate career off assists from London Crawford and Hailey Gordon. Two minutes later, freshman Leila Avila scored her first collegiate goal to complete the rout.

Georgia had five different players score, with each recording her first goal of the season. Crawford’s assist was also the first of her college career.

The six goals were Georgia’s most since a 6-0 victory over North Florida on Aug. 28, 2025.

For graduate goalkeeper Jordan Brown, however, the numbers on the scoreboard weren’t the only ones that mattered.

Asked where playing in front of an NCAA-record crowd ranked among the moments of her Georgia career, Brown didn’t hesitate.

“Definitely number one,” she said. “I think it’s so special for us to be able to play in front of our fans and even break the record. We’ve worked so hard in rebuilding the program and also just being ready for the season at this moment.”

Five Bulldogs — Zoe Abegg, Mary Hartofilis, Lola Manuel, Victoria Saah and Kyra Swart — also made their collegiate debuts on a night McAlpine viewed as bigger than one victory.

He credited the university and those behind the scenes for turning the idea of playing at Sanford Stadium into an event that drew more than 25,000 fans.

“This doesn’t happen simply because we had the idea,” McAlpine said. “It happens because everybody involved jumps on two feet and makes it go.”

Georgia returns to its usual home at the Turner Soccer Complex on Sunday to face Milwaukee at noon. The Bulldogs’ nine seniors will be recognized before the Senior Day match, which will be streamed on SEC Network+.