Women's soccer team makes NCAA tournament

The University of North Georgia (UNG) women's soccer team has punched its ticket to a fourth consecutive NCAA Division II tournament. As the No. 3 seed in the Southeast Regional, the Nighthawks will face No. 6 seed Wingate at 3 p.m. Nov. 16 in the first round in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Second-seeded Catawba College faces No. 7 seed UNC Pembroke at 6 p.m. Nov. 16, with the winner of that contest matching up with the UNG-Wingate victor at 6 p.m. Nov. 18 with a spot in the Southeast Regional finals on the line.

In the other half of the regional, fourth-seeded Columbus State University and fifth-seeded Flagler College will meet for a PBC semifinal rematch in the first round of the Southeast Regional, while top-seeded Lenoir Rhyne University will face eighth-seeded Carson-Newman University. 

UNG heads into the postseason for the ninth time in the NCAA era after one of the best regular seasons in the program's history. North Georgia compiled a record of 14-3-3 this season, finishing first in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) standings after going unbeaten at 8-0-1 in PBC play in the regular season. The Nighthawks then advanced to their first PBC tournament championship game since 2017.

UNG defeated Georgia Southwestern University 3-1 in its PBC tournament opener Nov. 6 before overcoming a 2-0 deficit to win in penalty kicks Nov. 10 in the PBC semifinals against Lander University. Columbus State defeated the Nighthawks 3-1 in the PBC title game Nov. 12, a reversal from UNG's win two weeks earlier to secure the regular-season title. Adleigh Wheeler and Natalie Maguire earned all-tournament honors.

Bailey Vessell secured PBC Defender of the Year honors for the season, with Sierra Fowler, Maysoon El-Shami and Cat Watry joining her as first-team All-PBC selections. Arielle Aronoff, Katey Derkay, Alex Clark, Wheeler, Alizee Buresi and Mychael Fruits brought home second-team All-PBC honors.

Fourth-year head coach Kayley Ralton was named PBC Coach of the Year. She is now 41-17-7 overall and 27-7-3 in PBC regular-season play since taking the helm of the program ahead of the spring 2021 season.