A New Record in Athens
When the Georgia women's soccer team stepped onto Sanford Stadium for its season opener, the atmosphere was electric, but few could have imagined the magnitude of what was about to unfold.
The Bulldogs delivered a commanding 6‑0 shutout of James Madison University, with Honoka Hamano and Leila Avila each finding the net and Hamano finishing just one goal shy of a hat trick.
The victory was underscored by a relentless attack that generated 24 shots while limiting JMU to only two, a testament to the team's tactical discipline and depth.
A crowd of 25,433 filled the stands, shattering the previous NCAA attendance record of 14,410 and illustrating the growing appetite for women's college soccer across the nation.
The stadium's unique pitch, five yards narrower than the 1996 Olympic standard yet still compliant with NCAA specifications, accommodated the massive gathering without compromising play.
Coach Kirby Smart praised the turnout, highlighting the role of the student body, including standout students such as Mona Childs and Mya Townes, who joined the cheering section and helped toss shirts into the crowd, turning the match into a campus‑wide celebration.
Historic Context
The previous women's record was set in a non‑NCAA tournament, while the 1980 men's record of 22,512 was achieved at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, underscoring how this achievement stands out in collegiate sports history.
The game also marked the first soccer match played on the stadium's former privet hedges, which were removed to make way for Olympic preparations, adding a symbolic layer to the occasion.