Fall teams prepare to start seasons

Three University of North Georgia (UNG) teams are gearing up for full fall seasons, with multiple others slated for short schedules ahead of their official seasons in the spring.

The UNG women's soccer program will be in search of its fourth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. This fall will mark the busiest hosting schedule in the cross country team's history. Meanwhile, interim head coach Anel Lilic will lead the men's soccer team after spending the previous two seasons as assistant coach.

"We are excited about the momentum of our programs and look forward to seeing them compete this fall," Athletics Director Mary Rob Plunkett said. "Our student-athletes and coaches continue to excel on both the national and conference levels."

Women's soccer

Head coach Kayley Ralton enters her fourth season as head coach, including the spring 2021 season as interim head coach. Her teams have compiled a 27-14-4 overall record and a 19-7-2 Peach Belt Conference (PBC) mark while making the NCAA tournament both years it was held.

UNG opens the season at UNC Pembroke at noon Sept. 1 and has its home opener at 4 p.m. Sept. 3 against Emmanuel College. See the full schedule.

The Nighthawks return previous All-PBC performers at all three levels in senior forward Katey Derkay, senior midfielder Maysoon El-Shami, and senior defender Bailey Vessell. El-Shami is a preseason All-PBC selection, and UNG is third in the preseason PBC coaches' poll.

Cross country

Head coach Chris England's program is coming off a season in which it finished first in four of its six regular-season meets, took second at the PBC championships and earned sixth place at the NCAA Southeast Regional.

This fall, UNG will host four meets at the Gainesville Campus:

• The 11th annual UNG Cross Country Invitational at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15.
• The men's and women's NCAA Southeast Regional Preview at 10 a.m. Sept. 30.
• The men's and women's PBC Championship at 9 a.m. Oct. 21
• The men's and women's NCAA Southeast Regional at 10 a.m. Nov. 4.

It will mark UNG's second time hosting the Southeast Regional after welcoming the event in 2018 as the first NCAA postseason competition in Hall County.

See the team's full schedule.

Previous All-PBC honorees include senior Claire Mills and juniors Anna Chasteen, Emily McBride and Elissa Oliver.

UNG was picked third in the preseason PBC coaches' poll.

Men's soccer

Lilic's team kicks off the season at 7 p.m. Aug. 31 at Lee University and has its home opener at 5 p.m. Sept. 5 against Erskine College. See the full schedule. The team was picked fifth in the preseason PBC coaches' poll.

Prior to his past two years with UNG, Lilic worked with Atlanta United as a goalkeeper coach in the Regional Development School after a stint with the Georgia Southern University women's soccer program. Prior to that, Lilic served as head coach at Flowery Branch High School, working with the girls' soccer program. Collegiately, he worked in Dahlonega as a graduate assistant and volunteer assistant with the UNG men's soccer for six years beginning in 2013.

Men's golf

Head coach Bryson Worley's team hosts the second annual Mizuno Intercollegiate at Chattahoochee Golf Club in Gainesville, Georgia, to cap off its five-event fall schedule. The event will serve as a preview to UNG hosting the NCAA Division II South/Southeast Regional in May.  

Women's golf

Head coach Sierra Campbell's program will host the 10th annual LeeAnn Noble Memorial from Oct. 9-10 at Achasta Golf Club in Dahlonega, Georgia, as part of its four-event fall schedule.

Men's and women's tennis

Both UNG tennis teams, coached by Kent Norsworthy, will play in four events beginning on Sept. 15-16 at the Columbus State Fall Invitational and ending on Oct. 27-28 with the UNG Fall Invitational.

Softball

Head coach Mike Davenport's defending NCAA Division II champions have a four-game fall scrimmage slate against in-state opponents:

• Sept. 24, noon: Georgia Military College (doubleheader), Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium, Dahlonega, Georgia.
• Oct. 1, noon: at Georgia Tech, Shirley Clements Mewborn Field, Atlanta, Georgia.
• Oct. 22, noon: University of Georgia, Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium, Dahlonega, Georgia.