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The University of Georgia women's soccer program etched its name into the history books on Thursday evening.
In their opening home fixture of the new NCAA campaign, the Bulldogs drew a crowd of 25,433 to the storied Sanford Stadium — home of the football team — to watch a dominant 6–0 victory over James Madison University.
The attendance figure shattered existing NCAA records for both men's and women's soccer. The previous women's record stood at 14,410, set during a 1999 matchup between Notre Dame and the University of North Carolina, while the men's record of 22,512 dated back to a 1980 contest between St. Louis and SIU Edwardsville.
Under normal circumstances, the Georgia women's soccer team plays at Turner Soccer Complex, which has a capacity of just 1,700. Yet just one game into the new season, the 25,000-plus turnout already surpasses by nearly 10,000 the total of 15,916 supporters who attended all 12 home matches in 2025.
Branded as "Soccer at Sanford," the event commemorated the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics gold medal final — also held at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. — when the U.S. women's national team claimed the first of its five Olympic gold medals. The Americans defeated China 2–1 on a decisive goal from Tiffeny Milbrett before a then-record crowd of 76,489.
GOALLLLLLLL😤
🐶 1 | 👑 0
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The concept of pairing the Olympic gold medal anniversary with the women's soccer team's season opener was a collaborative effort between head coach Keidane McAlpine and athletic director Josh Brooks. It served as a high-profile early-season event at the SEC institution, which kicked off its fall semester on Aug. 17.
"This was a tremendous victory for the University of Georgia," said McAlpine, who assumed the head coaching position in 2021. "It was a tremendous victory for college soccer, and we had a chance to honor one of the greatest moments in women's soccer history — a moment I believe is the reason we're all here today. I have to express my gratitude to everyone involved, especially the women who set this whole thing in motion."
Admission to Thursday's match was free, though attendees were still required to cover other costs associated with the experience, such as parking and concessions.
Georgia Stars Come Out
Kirby Smart showed up to support @UGASoccer as they play in Sanford Stadium 👏 pic.twitter.com/7uuTR35p80
Several prominent figures from the Bulldogs athletics community turned out to back the women's soccer team, including football head coach Kirby Smart, who stepped away from his usual sideline to take in a different sport, along with the men's basketball team and more than 500 other UGA student-athletes.
"I hope they felt special," Smart said during the SEC broadcast. "This has been an incredible opportunity for them to come and honor a tradition here tied to what happened 30 years ago. I know they're thrilled to have this crowd here... It really shows how much these student-athletes care about one another and about the fanbase here in Athens."
Sophomore forward Mya Towns, who got the scoring started against her parents' alma mater, added: "We went out there and showed everyone exactly what Georgia soccer is all about. Being able to look up into the stands and see so many people cheering us on and supporting us on such a grand stage was truly something extraordinary."
Another Women's Sports Record
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While massive football stadiums are best known for their gridiron glory, women's sports have produced some remarkable milestones within their iconic walls in recent years.
In 2023, the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers attracted 92,003 fans to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., for a women's volleyball victory over the University of Omaha, and that same year, the University of Iowa's Caitlin Clark-led Hawkeyes hosted 55,646 spectators at Kinnick Stadium for an exhibition game against DePaul.