DAHLONEGA – The University of North Georgia (UNG) women's soccer team has announced its schedule for the 2025 season.

The Nighthawks are coming off a 13-4-3 season last year in which they went 5-2-2 in Peach Belt Conference games. 

"We performed well in 2024 with a young team and will be working hard to build on that success," said head coach Kayley Ralton. 

"We are adding a talented group to complement our returning players and are looking forward to the upcoming season."

Last season, Ralton led UNG to its deepest run in the NCAA Tournament in program history as the Nighthawks raced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016. 

UNG will open the new season with its home opener at the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park against Wingate on Thursday, Sep. 4 at 4:30 p.m. The Nighthawks ended the Bulldogs' season in 2024 with a 2-0 victory in the First Round of the Southeast Regional.

UNG will then head on the road for two matches at UNC Pembroke and Young Harris before returning to Dahlonega to close out the early-season non-conference slate with home dates against Lee (Sep. 14) and Lincoln Memorial (Sep. 17).

The PBC season will begin on Saturday, Sep. 20 as the Nighthawks open the conference schedule at home against USC Beaufort. Kick off for the conference opener is scheduled for 1 p.m.

On Wednesday, Oct. 1, UNG will have an opportunity for revenge as it is scheduled to face the reigning conference champions and National Semifinalists in Columbus State (CSU). The Cougars finished last season ranked as the No. 2 team in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches. 

CSU narrowly won both meetings against the Nighthawks last year with a 1-0 victory in the regular season followed by a 2-0 triumph in the Regional Championship. Both matches were played in Columbus. 

Just three days after facing the Cougars, UNG will head to Greenwood, S.C. for a road contest at Lander, a rematch of last season's regional semifinal matchup which the Nighthawks won 1-0.

UNG has numerous non-conference regional games scheduled in 2025 including an Oct. 15 showdown with Catawba. The Nighthawks were scheduled to face the Indians last season but the game was ultimately canceled due to inclement weather. UNG will face Catawba, which received votes in the final United Soccer Coaches Poll in 2024, in Dahlonega at 3 p.m.

A few days later the Nighthawks will welcome a new opponent to the PBC as Middle Georgia, a newly admitted member to the league, is scheduled to make the trip to the UNG Soccer Field on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m.

Another regional showdown against Lenoir-Rhyne (LR) in Hickory, N.C. is set to take place on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. The Nighthawks defeated LR 1-0 in Dahlonega last season in a thrilling 1-0 win over the No. 9-ranked Bears.

The regular season will conclude on the road for UNG this season as it will head to Morrow, Ga. to take on Clayton State on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. 

The PBC Tournament is set to begin with the quarterfinal round on Saturday, Nov. 8 and end with the PBC Championship on Saturday, Nov. 15. 

The Nighthawks have one of the toughest schedules in the country on their plate in 2025. Of the seven teams (excluding UNG) that participated in the Southeast Regional last season, UNG will face six of them this fall. Four of those six were either ranked or receiving votes in the final United Soccer Coaches Poll last year.

"To help us reach our full potential, we have again set ourselves a tough challenge with a very testing schedule," said Ralton.