Soccer in the South Shines as UGA, Atlanta United Pick Up Historic Victories

Georgia is one of the best states in the country when it comes to supporting the world’s game, and this past Thursday and Sunday proved no different. The University of Georgia women’s soccer program and Atlanta United both had very successful weekends, picking up important victories and setting records along the way.

First to Athens, Georgia. Entering Thursday night, the NCAA women's soccer attendance record was 14,410. The men's record was 22,512.

The University of Georgia's women's soccer program shattered both those records, with 25,433 fans packing Sanford Stadium as the 25th ranked Bulldogs fired six goals past James Madison for their first victory of the 2026 season.

Credit: Evan Frilingos/The Red & Black

In what made for a very American experience, the UGA band blasted songs throughout the match, with cheerleaders dotting the sideline reminiscent of the early years of MLS. As these festivities in the stands began to ramp up, the home side won a penalty just eight minutes into the match. Sage Glover's effort from the spot rattled off the left post, but the rebound was put in by sophomore forward Mya Townes for the 1-0 lead.

Just under 10 minutes later, a low through ball from the left attacking flank was hit for Georgia's Norwegian forward Emma Pettersen, who slid towards the ball but couldn't get her shot past James Madison goalkeeper Sofia DeCurb.

DeCurb was immediately called back into action a minute later, saving a tap in inside the six-yard box diving to her left, and a James Madison defender cleared the rebound off the goal line.

At the midway point of the first half, a Sage Glover effort outside the box curled just wide of the bottom right corner. A few minutes later, however, Georgia would connect from long range after Pettersen beat two defenders and squared the ball outside the 18 to Honoka Hamano. Taking a touch across her body and onto her right foot, Hamano ripped a shot that the keeper couldn't push away, ending up in the bottom right corner and extending the Bulldog lead.

In the 35th minute, UGA added a third after a blocked shot saw the ball settled by the chest of Ava Stack. Her brilliant first touch allowed for a right-footed volley inside the box to the top left corner, and the game seemed out of reach for JMU from there.

With one minute to go before halftime, James Madison's second shot on target would be their best chance of the match, with a unexpected 30-yard effort forcing a quick diving save by Jordan Brown down to her right.

Credit Lily Kate Akins/@lilykatea_photos/The Red and Black

The second half started much slower than the first, with James Madison staying composed to keep the loss respectable on the scoresheet. They nearly cut into the lead 25 minutes in after a shot was deflected by the arm of a UGA defender. While the ball initially seemed to hit the arm in a natural position, the replay showed it was slightly extended outwards, but no penalty was given after VAR review.

With just under 20 minutes to go, Honoka Hamano would grab her brace, getting up to a floating back post cross and heading it past a desperate goalie off her line into the top left corner.

Five minutes later, Sofia DeCurb had to slide to stop a deadly through ball into the final third benefiting UGA, but her efforts saw the ball pop to Mya Townes. Unfortunately for Townes, her shot on the near-open net went wide right of the post, denying her of a brace.

As the college soccer clock continued to count down rather than up, the Bulldogs would fire a fifth into the back of the net. Hailey Gordon rounded a defender on the counter attack and played a square ball into the middle of the box for London Crawford. After her settling touch forced the goalie off her line, her second with the right foot gave Mona Childs all the time and space in the world for a finish on the open net.

Georgia would grab their third of the second half and final goal of the match with five minutes to go. Leila Avila received the ball off her shoulder in the box, allowing for a beautiful well-placed volley from her left foot to the top right corner.

It was the icing on the cake for an entertaining night of soccer, for all the first-time soccer fans and the Georgia soccer regulars. The Bulldogs proved why they deserved to be ranked so early on in the year, and the match gave a huge confidence boost after tight 0-0 and 1-1 draws against Illinois and Minnesota to open up the season.

Many fans who traveled to Athens could be found in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, as Atlanta United faced off against Sporting Kansas City. The Five Stripes would ride a dominant first half performance to a 2-1 victory for their first 3-game win streak since 2021, half a decade ago!

Credit: Atlanta United Communications

MLS is a silly league. Although Atlanta entered the match bottom of the Eastern Conference and second-bottom in the league, this matchup against current Wooden Spoon leaders Sporting Kansas City could prove dividends. A win, adding to their current streak of two straight victories (Red Bulls at home, Minnesota away), would only put the club THREE POINTS out of a playoff spot with 13 games to go.

Just two minutes in, the Five Stripes looked confident and poised on the ball, with Junior Alonso playing a great ball over the top in the left flank, meeting Miguel Almiron's vertical run. He fired a ball across the box, but no one in Red & Black could meet the threatening cross.

SKC would look to respond two minutes later. Jumping forward after an Adrian Gill giveaway, an open pass to the left side for a free 1v1 at goal was passed on for an overhit attempt at a 1-2 on the right, wasting the counter.

Very quickly, fans were witnessing how end-to-end the match would be. Atlanta would come down the other end and find Alexey Miranchuk with time to shoot at the top right side of the 18, but he would take a heavy first touch and have his shot deflected.

Credit: Atlanta United Communications

In the 13th minute, Miguel Almiron looked like his prime self. With multiple fake shots and stutter-step movements at the corner of the 18, he sent SKC defender Moises Mosquera to the ground, allowing for a cross to a wide-open Tomas Jacob at the back post. Jacob made no mistake, finishing first-time into the roof of the net for his third goal of the season and second game in a row with a tally on the scoresheet. In the 21st game of the year, it was the first time all season the Five Stripes had scored a goal within the first 15 minutes.

The end-to-end nature of the match continued. In the 19th minute, Almiron would be played into space just behind midfield, and his effort after a long sprint forward would force a diving save by Stefan Cleveland down to his left. Immediately afterwards, a long ball from the Kansas City backline found the feet of Calvin Harris, who cut inside against Tomas Jacob and ripped a shot that just barely missed the outside of the left post.

Atlanta would win a dangerous free kick on the right touchline three minutes later. Gill's cross was pinpoint to the head of Elias Baez, and his attempt bounced off the head of Kansas City right back Jake Davis onto the crossbar. His goal contribution would still come quickly, however. On the immediate corner, Baez would flick on Almiron's cross at the front post, finding Fafa Picault for a backheel flick into the left side netting for the 2-0 lead.

Credit: Atlanta United Communications

Almiron, by registering his 2nd assist of the match, grew his Atlanta United career total to 43, retaking the club’s all-time assist leader title from Brooks Lennon with 41.

United was not willing to take their foot off the gas. In the 28th minute, a long cross floated over everyone's heads and found Miguel Almiron at the back post. On the half volley, he got his leg high to put a fierce effort past the outstrecthed Cleveland, but it would rattle off the post and be cleared.

Finally, the game would begin to settle down as SKC tried to possess and go forward with confidence. All effort came through their wingers, Harris and Capita, but Junior Alonso and Paulo Diaz, the latter making his club debut, were excellent in defense. Winning 1v1 duels and staying composed under intense pressure in the box, both signings seem to have been great decisions by the club.

The game would stay composed overall into the second half, with Atlanta happy to keep possession up two goals and SKC failing to generate chances on the counter. But unfortunately for the home side, Sporting would find a way back into the match in the 70th minute. Jayden Reid attempted to cut from left to right in the box, resulting in the ball awkwardly hitting off an Atlanta United player and falling into unguarded space for Stephen Afrifa to run into and smash the ball past Hoyos into the bottom right corner.

Adding a Luke Brennan injury to the mix meant that the final 20 minutes of the match were incredibly stressful when they didn’t need to be. However, except for a 92nd minute header on a corner over the bar, the away side would not threaten Lucas Hoyos in goal, meaning Atlanta United pulled off a third straight victory, doubling their total win count before the month of August.

With that, Go Dawgs and Vamos Atlanta!