No. 25 Georgia Sets NCAA Attendance Record in 6-0 Win over JMU

Thursday, August 20

Athens, Ga.

7 p.m.

University of Georgia

1-0-2, 0-0-0

James Madison

1-2-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
James Madison	0	0	0
Georgia	3	3	6

No. 25 Georgia Sets NCAA Attendance Record in 6-0 Win over JMU

August 20, 2026 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia soccer team set a new NCAA Division I soccer attendance record of 25,433 spectators during a 6-0 victory over James Madison on Thursday night on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium.

Fast Facts

The new NCAA DI soccer attendance record shattered the previous record for a women's match of 14,410 spectators set in 1999, as well as the record for a men's match of 22,512 spectators set in 1980.
The result also marked the Bulldogs' first victory of the season, and the first time Georgia netted six or more goals in a match since it defeated North Florida by a 6-0 margin last season on Aug. 28, 2025.
Sophomore forward Mya Townes opened the scoring in the eighth minute slotting a left-footed shot past the Dukes' goalkeeper. Senior midfielder Honoka Hamano doubled the advantage in the 22^nd minute off an assist from graduate forward Emma Pettersen before sophomore forward Ava Stack scored the Bulldogs' third goal of the first half in the 34^th minute.
After leading 3-0 at halftime, Hamano secured her first career brace off an assist from sophomore defender Grayson Rogers to make it 4-0. Sophomore midfielder Mona Childs stretched the lead to five off assists from freshman midfielder London Crawford and sophomore forward Hailey Gordon in the 83^rd minute before freshman defender Leila Avila closed the scoring in the 85^th minute.
All five goalscorers scored their first goals of the season in the game while Avila's and Childs' goal marked the first of their collegiate careers.
Moreso, Crawford tabbed her first assist of her collegiate career while five players – Zoe Abegg, Mary Hartofilis, Lola Manuel, Victoria Saah and Kyra Swart – made their collegiate debuts.

Key Quotes
Georgia Head Coach Keidane McAlpine
Opening Statement
"First and foremost, I think it is important to thank everybody involved for this game, from our president all the way down to the field crew and everybody who was involved in making this happen. This doesn't happen simply because we had the idea. It happens because everybody involved jumps on two feet and makes it go. 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, and we had an opportunity to celebrate one of the best moments in women's soccer ever that I think is the catalyst for us being here right now. So, I have to show gratitude to all of those people, including those women, that kind of set this thing rolling."

#1 Jordan Brown | Gr. | GK
On where Thursday's match ranked in her Georgia career…
"Definitely number one. 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. I think we did really well being able to handle all the emotions but also going out and getting the wins. It was a really awesome, really good moment."

#23 Mya Townes | So. | F
On playing against her parents' alma mater…
"A lot of the conversations within my family were conflicting for sure. My parents literally as soon as they came out, my dad was like, 'Who am I going to root for?' I was like, 'There's only one right answer, but I totally understand the confusion there.' I grew up on JMU's campus. I know that campus like the back of my hand. I think it's beautiful, and I made a really big decision moving away from home and not pursuing going there and coming here instead. Also today, 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. Also, just being able to score in a game like this as well and looking up in the stands and seeing my parents, who are JMU alumni, still supporting me and riding for me because of how much they love me is really something that I could never expect, and can't even honestly put into words, just because it's such an incredible experience and that love is something so different."

Up Next
The Bulldogs take the pitch again on Sunday, August 23 against Milwaukee back at the Turner Soccer Complex. Kickoff is set for noon ET, and the nine members of the 2026 Bulldog senior class will be recognized for Senior Day. Admission is free for all spectators, and the match will stream live on SEC Network+.