University of Georgia Athletics
Thursday, August 20
Athens, Ga.
7 p.m.
University of Georgia
vs
James Madison
No. 25 Georgia Hosts JMU for Soccer in Sanford
August 19, 2026 | Soccer
#25/NR Georgia (0-0-2, 0-0-0 SEC) vs. James Madison (1-1-0, 0-0-0 SBC)
Date: Thursday, Aug. 20
Time: 7 p.m. EDT
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium (93,033)
Tickets: Free Admission
MEDIA INFORMATION
TV: SEC Network (Glenn Davis, PxP / Jill Loyden, Analyst / Marion Crowder, Sideline)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
X: @UGASoccer
Instagram: @UGASoccer
Social Media: For complete information on Georgia soccer, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGASoccer on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: James Madison leads 1-0-0
In Athens: First Meeting
Neutral: James Madison leads 1-0-0
Last Meeting: JMU – W, 1-0 (Nov. 14, 2008 – Winston-Salem, N.C.)
GF / GA: 0 / 1
FAN INFORMATION
Entrance: The Sanford Stadium gates will open at 6 p.m. EDT. Spectators will be able to enter through Gate 1 (located under the scoreboard on Sanford Drive), Gate 2 (located by the northwest stair tower), and Gate 4 (located by the northeast stair tower at Reed Plaza).
Seating: Spectators will be seated in the 100-level seating bowl on the north side of the stadium, with ADA seating available in section 114 and the west end zone.
Tickets: All spectators must claim a ticket on GeorgiaDogs.com at https://georgiadogs.evenue.net/events/SS. UGA students must use GeorgiaDogs.com to claim their tickets as well. Admission is free for all spectators.
Parking: Spectators are encouraged to park in the UGA North Campus area. Parking will cost $5 for all UGA parking areas via payment on the Parkmobile app.
The following lots are recommended for spectators (see map below):
Spectators are also encouraged to park in downtown areas, including the Classic Center, or in the church lots along Lumpkin Street if available.
In the case of limited availability, the STEM Deck (S06), PAC Deck (E20), South Deck (S11), and Printing Lot (E11), however these gates are located south of the Sanford Stadium and the north entry gates.
Spectators should be aware of normal school day traffic entering and exiting Athens, as most of these parking areas will be in full use through 5 pm. Additionally, these areas will still be utilized by students and staff conducting normal university business on Thursday evening.
The Sanford Drive bridge will be closed from 5-7 pm between Hooper Street and Field Street. The bridge will close again for up to an hour near the end of the match to allow spectators to more safely exit the stadium.
Concessions: Concessions will be sold in the 100 north concourse and Reed Plaza, along with stations on the West End Zone Plaza. Alcohol sales will conclude at the 65th minute of the match. Hydration stations will be available in the West End Zone and Reed Plazas. All transactions will be contactless.
Promotions: For the match, the first 3,000 students will receive free Chick-fil-A and a Soccer in Sanford t-shirt. The first 4,000 spectators will receive a free Soccer in Sanford poster. A post-match fireworks show will immediately follow the conclusion of the match.
QUICK KICKS
Celebrate History. Make History.
Georgia opens its home season with a historic evening in Athens as the Bulldogs face James Madison in the "Soccer in Sanford" match on Thursday, Aug. 20 at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium. The match is simultaneously honoring the 30th anniversary of the United States women's national team's gold medal victory over China in the 1996 Summer Olympics at Sanford, along with looking to set a new NCAA attendance record. The women's record of 14,410 was set in the 1999 NCAA Championship in San Jose between North Carolina and Notre Dame, while the overall mark of 22,512 was set in 1980 during a Saint Louis-SIUE match at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
Dawgs and Dukes Connections
Georgia and James Madison carry a variety of connections into Thursday's contest. The Bulldogs and Dukes' lone previous meeting came in 2008 when JMU topped Georgia, 1-0, in the NCAA First Round match in Winston-Salem, N.C. On the coaching front, JMU head coach Joshua Walters, Sr. was UCLA's associate head coach against then-USC head coach Keidane McAlpine when the Bruins and Trojans set the NCAA women's soccer regular season attendance record with 11,925 in 2017 at UCLA's Drake Stadium. Finally, Georgia sophomore forward Mya Townes is the daughter of two former JMU student-athletes: father D'Artagnan played football and mother, Leisha played volleyball for the Dukes. Additionally, Townes' older sister is named Madison, currently in her fifth year season at Marshall.
Twin City Tie
No. 19 Georgia concluded its season-opening Big Ten road trip with a 1-1 tie at Minnesota on Sunday. The Bulldogs scored their first goal of the season in the 45th minute as an appeal by coach Keidane McAlpine led to a penalty kick, which was converted by Sage Glover for her first Georgia goal. The Golden Gophers rallied in the second half, eventually outshooting the Bulldogs, 15-3, en route to a 17-6 advantage for the match. Goalkeeper Jordan Brown made her first start back after missing last season due to injury, stopping seven Gopher shots. For Georgia, it is the first season to start with consecutive ties since 2004.
Drawing Up a Tie
Georgia opened its 32nd season with a scoreless tie at Illinois, marking the second 0-0 draw in a season opener in three seasons, including the same result against Pitt in 2024. The Bulldogs and Fighting Illini combined for seven shots on goal in the match, with six coming in the opening 36 minutes of play. The Bulldogs were more aggressive in the second half, outshooting the Illini by a 6-3 margin and earning a couple of solid looks which did not go in the net. Dating back to last season, Georgia has been shut out in three straight matches for the first time in the Keidane McAlpine era.
Soccer in Sanford
After its season-opening trip to the Midwest, Georgia returns home for a historic evening in Athens. The Bulldogs will face James Madison in the "Soccer in Sanford" match on Thursday, Aug. 20 at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium. The match will simultaneously honor the 30th anniversary of the United States women's national team's gold medal victory over China in the 1996 Summer Olympics at Sanford, along with looking to set a new NCAA attendance record. The women's record of 14,410 was set in the 1999 NCAA Championship in San Jose between North Carolina and Notre Dame, while the overall mark of 22,512 was set in 1980 during a Saint Louis-SIUE match at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
Racking Up Honors
Georgia collected a bevy of preseason honors entering the 2026 season. The Bulldogs were ranked 19th in the United Soccer Coaches poll and 25th in TopDrawerSoccer's rankings, earning a preseason ranking for the sixth time in program history (1998, '99, '08, '09, '24, '26). Senior midfielder Honoka Hamano was named to United Soccer Coaches' Midfielders to Watch List, following an All-Big 12 season last year at UCF. Fifth year defender Assa Kante was ranked 43rd nationally in TDS' Top 100 Players List, while freshman Lilly Osifodunrin earned a spot on the TDS Preseason Freshman Best XI. Additionally, graduate goalkeeper Jordan Brown, senior midfielder Kiera Staude, sophomore forward Mya Townes and Folliard were named to the SEC Preseason Watch List.
New Faces in New Places
Adding to 16 returning letterwinners, Georgia welcomes 12 new players to the 2026 roster, including four veteran transfers. Honoka Hamano earned Second Team All-Big 12 and Third Team All-Region honors last season at UCF, while senior midfielder Gabbi Ceballos was an SEC All-Tournament Team member at LSU last season as she helped the Tigers reach the NCAA Round of 16. Graduate forward Emma Pettersen picked up First Team All-CUSA honors last season at Middle Tennessee with nine goals and five assists. The Bulldog freshmen are led by defender Lilly Osifodunrin, who was ranked 23rd nationally by TopDrawerSoccer, while fellow defender Leila Avila joined Bulldog teammate Ava Stack to help lead Mexico to a bronze medal at the 2025 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup. Fellow Californian Maya Woolforde was TDS' No. 25 national recruit, while midfielder London Crawford (Colombia) and forward Mary Hartofilis (Ireland) bring international experience to the table. In addition to the newcomers, sophomores Mona Childs, Grayson Rogers, and Victoria Saah will also look to make their Georgia debuts early in the season after not seeing the field in their 2025 freshman campaigns. Childs and Rogers both suffered season-ending injuries prior to the fall, but will look to immediately contribute.
A Veteran Group
Despite the loaded class of newcomers, Georgia returns 64.5 percent of its minutes from the 2025 team which finished third in SEC play. Senior midfielder Kiera Staude, a 2025 Second Team All-SEC performer, is the Bulldogs' top returning attacker after a career-high six goals last season. Sophomore forward Lily Kate Elphick posted four goals in her first season, while fellow sophomore attacker Mya Townes provided three, including a winner against top-10 Arkansas. The Bulldogs' backline is buoyed by the returns of fifth year Assa Kante, senior Devon Winters, and sophomore Maddy Herniter, who combined for 58 starts last season. The Bulldogs also feature tremendous depth in goal with graduate Jordan Brown and sophomore Hannah Folliard returning this season. Folliard was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team last year after posting 46 saves and five solo shutouts. Brown missed the 2025 season due to injury but has amassed 233 saves in 52 appearances, ranking fourth in program history with a 0.99 GAA.
Challenging Slate
Georgia head coach Keidane McAlpine has again crafted a challenging schedule for his team, including five ranked matchups. For the fifth-consecutive season, the Bulldogs will take on the defending NCAA champion as they face Florida State on Sept. 3 in Athens. A week prior, Georgia will travel to face 2025 College Cup semifinalist TCU in Fort Worth. The Bulldogs will also take on SEC preseason favorites Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and LSU. Georgia is one of five Power Four programs to face a team from each of the four P4 conferences, joining Illinois, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Ohio State.
Raising the Bar
Under Keidane McAlpine, Georgia has continued to raise the program's profile and achieve new heights of success, highlighted by the 2023 SEC Tournament championship and NCAA Round of 16 appearance. The Bulldogs have both advanced in the SEC Tournament and hosted NCAA First Round matches in four straight years for the first time. The Bulldogs have also finished unbeaten on the road in SEC play in both 2022 and 2024. McAlpine's program currently has four players in the NWSL (Croix Bethune, Mallie McKenzie, Cate Hardin, Madison Haugen), the most top flight pro players at any point in program history. Three Bulldogs (Amber Nguyen, Nicole Vernis, Hannah White) also helped Lexington Sporting Club sweep the USL Super League regular season and postseason titles.
The Bulldogs' increased success has expanded the recruiting footprint of the program, resulting in a roster full of geographic diversity in 2026. This season's team features players from 10 different states and four nations. The Dawgs still feature 12 players from Georgia, one of the country's deepest talent pools.
Up Next
Georgia remains home for its first match of the season at Turner Soccer Complex against Milwaukee on Sunday, Aug. 24 at noon EDT. Prior to the match, nine members of the Georgia senior class will be recognized in the annual Senior Day ceremony. Admission is free for all spectators, and the match will stream live on SEC Network+.
Date: Thursday, Aug. 20
Time: 7 p.m. EDT
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium (93,033)
Tickets: Free Admission
MEDIA INFORMATION
TV: SEC Network (Glenn Davis, PxP / Jill Loyden, Analyst / Marion Crowder, Sideline)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
X: @UGASoccer
Instagram: @UGASoccer
Social Media: For complete information on Georgia soccer, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGASoccer on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: James Madison leads 1-0-0
In Athens: First Meeting
Neutral: James Madison leads 1-0-0
Last Meeting: JMU – W, 1-0 (Nov. 14, 2008 – Winston-Salem, N.C.)
GF / GA: 0 / 1
FAN INFORMATION
Entrance: The Sanford Stadium gates will open at 6 p.m. EDT. Spectators will be able to enter through Gate 1 (located under the scoreboard on Sanford Drive), Gate 2 (located by the northwest stair tower), and Gate 4 (located by the northeast stair tower at Reed Plaza).
Seating: Spectators will be seated in the 100-level seating bowl on the north side of the stadium, with ADA seating available in section 114 and the west end zone.
Tickets: All spectators must claim a ticket on GeorgiaDogs.com at https://georgiadogs.evenue.net/events/SS. UGA students must use GeorgiaDogs.com to claim their tickets as well. Admission is free for all spectators.
Parking: Spectators are encouraged to park in the UGA North Campus area. Parking will cost $5 for all UGA parking areas via payment on the Parkmobile app.
The following lots are recommended for spectators (see map below):
- North Campus Deck (N06)
- Oconee Street Lot (N02)
- Oconee/Broad Lot (N03)
- Business Services Lot (N04)
- Staff Training Lot (N08)
- Williams Street (N12)
- Oconee PD Lot (N13)
- Springhill Suites Lot (W16)
- Old Holiday Inn Lot (W17)
- Old BCM Lot (W02)
- Hull Deck (W05)
Spectators are also encouraged to park in downtown areas, including the Classic Center, or in the church lots along Lumpkin Street if available.
In the case of limited availability, the STEM Deck (S06), PAC Deck (E20), South Deck (S11), and Printing Lot (E11), however these gates are located south of the Sanford Stadium and the north entry gates.
Spectators should be aware of normal school day traffic entering and exiting Athens, as most of these parking areas will be in full use through 5 pm. Additionally, these areas will still be utilized by students and staff conducting normal university business on Thursday evening.
The Sanford Drive bridge will be closed from 5-7 pm between Hooper Street and Field Street. The bridge will close again for up to an hour near the end of the match to allow spectators to more safely exit the stadium.
Concessions: Concessions will be sold in the 100 north concourse and Reed Plaza, along with stations on the West End Zone Plaza. Alcohol sales will conclude at the 65th minute of the match. Hydration stations will be available in the West End Zone and Reed Plazas. All transactions will be contactless.
Promotions: For the match, the first 3,000 students will receive free Chick-fil-A and a Soccer in Sanford t-shirt. The first 4,000 spectators will receive a free Soccer in Sanford poster. A post-match fireworks show will immediately follow the conclusion of the match.
QUICK KICKS
Celebrate History. Make History.
Georgia opens its home season with a historic evening in Athens as the Bulldogs face James Madison in the "Soccer in Sanford" match on Thursday, Aug. 20 at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium. The match is simultaneously honoring the 30th anniversary of the United States women's national team's gold medal victory over China in the 1996 Summer Olympics at Sanford, along with looking to set a new NCAA attendance record. The women's record of 14,410 was set in the 1999 NCAA Championship in San Jose between North Carolina and Notre Dame, while the overall mark of 22,512 was set in 1980 during a Saint Louis-SIUE match at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
Dawgs and Dukes Connections
Georgia and James Madison carry a variety of connections into Thursday's contest. The Bulldogs and Dukes' lone previous meeting came in 2008 when JMU topped Georgia, 1-0, in the NCAA First Round match in Winston-Salem, N.C. On the coaching front, JMU head coach Joshua Walters, Sr. was UCLA's associate head coach against then-USC head coach Keidane McAlpine when the Bruins and Trojans set the NCAA women's soccer regular season attendance record with 11,925 in 2017 at UCLA's Drake Stadium. Finally, Georgia sophomore forward Mya Townes is the daughter of two former JMU student-athletes: father D'Artagnan played football and mother, Leisha played volleyball for the Dukes. Additionally, Townes' older sister is named Madison, currently in her fifth year season at Marshall.
Twin City Tie
No. 19 Georgia concluded its season-opening Big Ten road trip with a 1-1 tie at Minnesota on Sunday. The Bulldogs scored their first goal of the season in the 45th minute as an appeal by coach Keidane McAlpine led to a penalty kick, which was converted by Sage Glover for her first Georgia goal. The Golden Gophers rallied in the second half, eventually outshooting the Bulldogs, 15-3, en route to a 17-6 advantage for the match. Goalkeeper Jordan Brown made her first start back after missing last season due to injury, stopping seven Gopher shots. For Georgia, it is the first season to start with consecutive ties since 2004.
Drawing Up a Tie
Georgia opened its 32nd season with a scoreless tie at Illinois, marking the second 0-0 draw in a season opener in three seasons, including the same result against Pitt in 2024. The Bulldogs and Fighting Illini combined for seven shots on goal in the match, with six coming in the opening 36 minutes of play. The Bulldogs were more aggressive in the second half, outshooting the Illini by a 6-3 margin and earning a couple of solid looks which did not go in the net. Dating back to last season, Georgia has been shut out in three straight matches for the first time in the Keidane McAlpine era.
Soccer in Sanford
After its season-opening trip to the Midwest, Georgia returns home for a historic evening in Athens. The Bulldogs will face James Madison in the "Soccer in Sanford" match on Thursday, Aug. 20 at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium. The match will simultaneously honor the 30th anniversary of the United States women's national team's gold medal victory over China in the 1996 Summer Olympics at Sanford, along with looking to set a new NCAA attendance record. The women's record of 14,410 was set in the 1999 NCAA Championship in San Jose between North Carolina and Notre Dame, while the overall mark of 22,512 was set in 1980 during a Saint Louis-SIUE match at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
Racking Up Honors
Georgia collected a bevy of preseason honors entering the 2026 season. The Bulldogs were ranked 19th in the United Soccer Coaches poll and 25th in TopDrawerSoccer's rankings, earning a preseason ranking for the sixth time in program history (1998, '99, '08, '09, '24, '26). Senior midfielder Honoka Hamano was named to United Soccer Coaches' Midfielders to Watch List, following an All-Big 12 season last year at UCF. Fifth year defender Assa Kante was ranked 43rd nationally in TDS' Top 100 Players List, while freshman Lilly Osifodunrin earned a spot on the TDS Preseason Freshman Best XI. Additionally, graduate goalkeeper Jordan Brown, senior midfielder Kiera Staude, sophomore forward Mya Townes and Folliard were named to the SEC Preseason Watch List.
New Faces in New Places
Adding to 16 returning letterwinners, Georgia welcomes 12 new players to the 2026 roster, including four veteran transfers. Honoka Hamano earned Second Team All-Big 12 and Third Team All-Region honors last season at UCF, while senior midfielder Gabbi Ceballos was an SEC All-Tournament Team member at LSU last season as she helped the Tigers reach the NCAA Round of 16. Graduate forward Emma Pettersen picked up First Team All-CUSA honors last season at Middle Tennessee with nine goals and five assists. The Bulldog freshmen are led by defender Lilly Osifodunrin, who was ranked 23rd nationally by TopDrawerSoccer, while fellow defender Leila Avila joined Bulldog teammate Ava Stack to help lead Mexico to a bronze medal at the 2025 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup. Fellow Californian Maya Woolforde was TDS' No. 25 national recruit, while midfielder London Crawford (Colombia) and forward Mary Hartofilis (Ireland) bring international experience to the table. In addition to the newcomers, sophomores Mona Childs, Grayson Rogers, and Victoria Saah will also look to make their Georgia debuts early in the season after not seeing the field in their 2025 freshman campaigns. Childs and Rogers both suffered season-ending injuries prior to the fall, but will look to immediately contribute.
A Veteran Group
Despite the loaded class of newcomers, Georgia returns 64.5 percent of its minutes from the 2025 team which finished third in SEC play. Senior midfielder Kiera Staude, a 2025 Second Team All-SEC performer, is the Bulldogs' top returning attacker after a career-high six goals last season. Sophomore forward Lily Kate Elphick posted four goals in her first season, while fellow sophomore attacker Mya Townes provided three, including a winner against top-10 Arkansas. The Bulldogs' backline is buoyed by the returns of fifth year Assa Kante, senior Devon Winters, and sophomore Maddy Herniter, who combined for 58 starts last season. The Bulldogs also feature tremendous depth in goal with graduate Jordan Brown and sophomore Hannah Folliard returning this season. Folliard was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team last year after posting 46 saves and five solo shutouts. Brown missed the 2025 season due to injury but has amassed 233 saves in 52 appearances, ranking fourth in program history with a 0.99 GAA.
Challenging Slate
Georgia head coach Keidane McAlpine has again crafted a challenging schedule for his team, including five ranked matchups. For the fifth-consecutive season, the Bulldogs will take on the defending NCAA champion as they face Florida State on Sept. 3 in Athens. A week prior, Georgia will travel to face 2025 College Cup semifinalist TCU in Fort Worth. The Bulldogs will also take on SEC preseason favorites Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and LSU. Georgia is one of five Power Four programs to face a team from each of the four P4 conferences, joining Illinois, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Ohio State.
Raising the Bar
Under Keidane McAlpine, Georgia has continued to raise the program's profile and achieve new heights of success, highlighted by the 2023 SEC Tournament championship and NCAA Round of 16 appearance. The Bulldogs have both advanced in the SEC Tournament and hosted NCAA First Round matches in four straight years for the first time. The Bulldogs have also finished unbeaten on the road in SEC play in both 2022 and 2024. McAlpine's program currently has four players in the NWSL (Croix Bethune, Mallie McKenzie, Cate Hardin, Madison Haugen), the most top flight pro players at any point in program history. Three Bulldogs (Amber Nguyen, Nicole Vernis, Hannah White) also helped Lexington Sporting Club sweep the USL Super League regular season and postseason titles.
The Bulldogs' increased success has expanded the recruiting footprint of the program, resulting in a roster full of geographic diversity in 2026. This season's team features players from 10 different states and four nations. The Dawgs still feature 12 players from Georgia, one of the country's deepest talent pools.
Up Next
Georgia remains home for its first match of the season at Turner Soccer Complex against Milwaukee on Sunday, Aug. 24 at noon EDT. Prior to the match, nine members of the Georgia senior class will be recognized in the annual Senior Day ceremony. Admission is free for all spectators, and the match will stream live on SEC Network+.
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
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Goalkeeper
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Midfielder
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Midfielder
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Midfielder
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Midfielder
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Goalkeeper
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Midfielder
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Midfielder
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Defender
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Forward
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Forward
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Defender
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Goalkeeper
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Midfielder
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Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
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Defender
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Forward
/ SoccerWednesday, August 12
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