ATHENS, GA — The University of Georgia women’s soccer program made NCAA history Thursday night, drawing a record crowd of 25,433 fans to Sanford Stadium for a dominant 6-0 victory over James Madison.
The crowd set a new NCAA Division I single-game soccer attendance record, surpassing the previous marks for both women’s and men’s college soccer. The previous NCAA women’s record was 14,410, while the men’s record stood at 22,512.
The historic matchup, billed as “Soccer in Sanford,” brought the sport back to one of college football’s most recognizable venues. It also carried special significance because 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Women’s National Team winning Olympic gold in Athens during the 1996 Atlanta Games. Sanford Stadium hosted Olympic soccer during those Games.
Georgia made sure the record-setting crowd had plenty to celebrate. The No. 25 Bulldogs controlled the match from start to finish, scoring six unanswered goals and shutting out James Madison on Dooley Field.
Beyond the final score, the night served as a major showcase for women’s soccer in Georgia. Thousands of fans, students and youth soccer players packed the stadium, creating an atmosphere rarely seen for a regular-season college soccer match.
Georgia head coach Keidane McAlpine credited the university and athletic department for helping turn the event into a success. The program hopes the historic turnout can translate into continued interest and support for Georgia soccer throughout the season.
The record-setting evening gave the Bulldogs an emphatic home victory while also adding another chapter to Sanford Stadium’s soccer history — three decades after the venue played a role in one of the most memorable moments in U.S. women’s soccer.
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