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

(Photo by UGA Photos)

Georgia defender Kieryn Jeter (22) during Georgia’s exhibition match against Auburn at Turner Soccer Complex

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

The crowd surpassed the previous women’s record of 14,410 set in 1999 and the men’s mark of 22,512 from 1980. It marked Georgia’s first win of the season and the program’s first time scoring six or more goals since a 6-0 win over North Florida on Aug. 28, 2025.

Sophomore forward Mya Townes opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a left-footed shot. Senior midfielder Honoka Hamano made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute off an assist from graduate forward Emma Pettersen, and sophomore forward Ava Stack added a third goal in the 34th minute.

Hamano completed her first career brace after halftime on an assist from sophomore defender Grayson Rogers. Sophomore midfielder Mona Childs scored in the 83rd minute with assists from freshman midfielder London Crawford and sophomore forward Hailey Gordon, and freshman defender Leila Avila closed the scoring two minutes later.

All five goal scorers notched their first goals of the season. Avila and Childs scored the first goals of their college careers, while Crawford recorded her first career assist. Five players — Zoe Abegg, Mary Hartofilis, Lola Manuel, Victoria Saah and Kyra Swart — made their collegiate debuts.

“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,” Georgia coach Keidane McAlpine said. “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.”

Goalkeeper Jordan Brown called the night the top experience of her Georgia career. “We’ve worked so hard in rebuilding the program and also just being ready for the season at this moment,” she said. “It was a really awesome, really good moment.”

Townes, whose parents attended James Madison, said the win carried extra meaning. “I grew up on JMU’s campus,” she said. “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.”

Georgia returns to action Sunday against Milwaukee at Turner Soccer Complex. Kickoff is noon ET, with the nine members of the 2026 senior class recognized on Senior Day. Admission is free, and the match will stream on SEC Network+.