UNG Women's Soccer Season Preview: The Hawks Nest Episode 1
DAHLONEGA – In just two short days, the University of North Georgia women's soccer team will open its 2024 season at home against UNC Pembroke. The match from the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday, marking UNG's first home match since the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship a season ago.
After a 14-4-4 mark last season which included the program's first ever outright PBC regular season title, head coach Kayley Ralton and the Nighthawks are back and ready to go in 2024.
UNG returns five PBC All-Conference selections from last season in senior goalkeeper Sierra Fowler, senior defenders Cat Watry and Mychael Fruits and junior midfielders Alex Clark and Adleigh Wheeler. Watry and Wheeler were both also selected to the United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-Region Team while Fowler returns as a USC All-American from last year.
This season, the Nighthawk Sports Network has debuted a new show, The Hawks Nest. The long-form interview show sits down with the head coaches of UNG's 13 athletic teams to discuss last season, the upcoming season and everything in between.
Ralton, who made history last season becoming the first female head coach in conference history to win the PBC Regular Season Championship, sat down with UNG Director of Communications Brendan Schabath for the show's inaugural episode.
"Being the first female to win the Peach Belt, I have mixed emotions about it to be completely honest," said Ralton. "There's a sense of pride there but I almost wish that I wasn't the first one because I wish that there was a lot more. But I'm just hopeful that it will set the way for more to come and more to follow in that path."
Ralton discussed her recruiting method, the foundations of the program that have led to its recent success, her Scottish playing background and more.
She also mentioned the team's 11 newcomers this year which includes 10 freshman and junior forward Bailey Oetinger who transferred to UNG from Division I Lipscomb last spring. Fostering the dynamic between a large group of newcomers and a bulk of returners who have already tasted success is going to be a key piece of the Nighthawks' season in 2024.
"I think we just have really good balance here and it's not always perfect, and I think that's another part of it. We talk about how we're not always going to be perfect and we take ownership of that as a staff and as a team which creates that kind of mutual respect," said Ralton.
"We're going to be competitive and serious in the right moments, but we're also going to have some fun as well – again in the right moments. I think that balance is something we've been able to do really well here and it's just benefited us down the line."
The Nighthawks will face UNC Pembroke in the season's opening match on Thursday. Out of the Conference Carolinas, Pembroke has been a common foe for UNG in recent years. While the Braves hold a 10-8-3 advantage in the all-time series, the Nighthawks have won three of the last four matchups. UNG is ranked No. 24 in the nation by the USC Preseason Poll. As it stands currently, the Nighthawks will face four other preseason top-25 teams this season in No. 3 Florida Tech (Sep. 15), No. 8 Lenoir-Rhyne (Oct. 30), No. 14 Catawba (Sep. 25) and No. 23 Columbus State (Oct. 26). All matchups against ranked opponents except for Columbus State are slated to be at home for UNG.
After breaking barriers and history in 2023, Ralton and her team are hungry for more in 2024. Thankfully, with the season opener nearly 48 hours away, they won't have to wait long.
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