Fall teams aim to maintain momentum

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) Athletic Department will aim to build this fall on the best year in program history. UNG is coming off a 22nd-place mark in the NCAA Division II Learfield Directors' Cup standings, its first-ever top 25 finish in the all-sports ranking.

"The momentum in Nighthawk Nation is unmistakable. We firmly believe our fall teams will continue our trend of excellence both nationally and in our conference," Athletic Director Mary Rob Plunkett said. "The vision is becoming closer to reality every day as we build the most competitive, value-added Division II athletic program in the nation."

Leading the charge will be the women's soccer team, fresh off its second Sweet 16 appearance ever and first since 2016. Head coach Kayley Ralton's program has made all four of the NCAA tournaments held during her tenure, and the Nighthawks have earned five NCAA berths in a row overall. Her team kicks off the season at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 4 against Wingate University at the UNG Soccer Field.

The team is coming off a 13-4-3 campaign in 2024, including a 5-2-2 Peach Belt Conference (PBC) mark that was good for second place. UNG has nine seniors on the roster. This fall, the Nighthawks will seek to win at least one NCAA tournament game for a third straight season for the first time since 2016. Ralton is 54-22-11 in five seasons as head coach.

In head coach Anel Lilic's third season overall and second season as the permanent head coach, the men's soccer team will look to make another leap. Lilic's group went 8-6-3 overall and 6-3-1 in PBC play a season ago.

The men's soccer team, which features 12 seniors, kicks off 2025 at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 against ninth-ranked Coker University at the UNG Soccer Field.

Coming off a national semifinalist season in 2024-25 and Hunter Smith's individual national title, the men's golf team will play in five tournaments this fall. Head coach Bryson Worley and UNG will host the fourth annual Mizuno Intercollegiate at Chattahoochee Golf Club in Gainesville, Georgia, from Sept. 15-16.

Following the first NCAA Division II regional appearance in program history, head coach Sierra Campbell and the women's golf team are slated for four tournaments this fall. UNG will host the 12th annual LeAnn Noble Memorial at Achasta Golf Club from Oct. 13-14.

The women's cross country team has five regular-season competitions, highlighted by hosting the 13th annual UNG Cross Country Invitational at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at UNG's Gainesville Campus. Head coach Chris England and his team will also compete in the Oct. 3 Georgia Tech Cross Country Invitational.