Fall teams set to chase lofty goals

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) athletic teams will aim to keep the Nighthawks' momentum rolling this fall.

Both UNG soccer teams earned regular-season Peach Belt Conference (PBC) championships in 2025, marking the first such title for the men's team. The women's team set a program record with 18 victories. The teams each feature key returnees as they aim to keep climbing.

"Our teams were among the best in the nation and the PBC a season ago, and we have no doubt they will compete at the highest levels again this fall," Athletic Director Mary Rob Plunkett said. "The hard work of our student-athletes and coaches makes us proud every day as they continue to move us toward our goal of being the most competitive, value-added Division II athletic program in the nation."

The women's soccer team features an experienced core, including a combined 13 juniors and seniors, and returns its top three goal-scorers: Grace McGill (10), Blanca Cruz (9) and Nina Lopez (9). Head coach Kayley Ralton enters her seventh season with a 70-25-12 record and has reached the NCAA tournament all five times it has been held during her tenure. Her team opens the season at 2 p.m. Aug. 27 at Lees-McRae before a 1 p.m. Aug. 30 home opener against Young Harris.

Fourth-year head coach Anel Lilic's men's soccer team features nine seniors, with senior Isaac Calderon (3 goals, 11 assists in 2025) and junior Maxwell Mitchell (4 goals, 4 assists) as the returning stat leaders and senior Aleksa Lukic back for his third season as the starting goalkeeper. The Nighthawks kick off the season at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 against Barry at the UNG Soccer Complex.

The women's cross country team has five regular-season meets, starting with the Sept. 4 Young Harris Cross Country Opener and the 14th annual UNG Cross Country Invitational Sept. 18 at UNG's Gainesville Campus. The PBC championship is set for Nov. 7 in Macon, Georgia, and the NCAA Southeast Regional is Nov. 21 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Seventh-year head coach Chris England's group features two seniors.

Led by ninth-year head coach and director of golf Bryson Worley and six seniors, the men's golf team will take part in five fall tournaments, highlighted by the fifth annual Lake Lanier Collegiate Classic set for Sept. 21-22 at Achasta Golf Club in Dahlonega, Georgia.

Eighth-year head coach Sierra Campbell's women's golf team also has five tournaments, including the 13th annual LeeAnn Noble Memorial set for Oct. 12-13 at Achasta. Her group has two seniors, and all seven players are returnees.