Women's soccer team is regular-season champ

UNG opens PBC tournament play in the quarterfinals by hosting No. 8 seed Clayton State at 2 p.m. Nov. 8 at the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park in Dahlonega, Georgia. Tickets can be purchased on UNG's Hometown Ticketing webpage. Students receive free admission with their UNG ID. As long as it advances in the tournament, UNG will play at home, which includes a potential Nov. 12 semifinal and Nov. 15 championship match.

The Nighthawks, ranked eighth nationally, wrapped up the regular season with a 3-0 victory Nov. 1 at Clayton State. They enter postseason play with a 15-1-1 overall record, well within reach of surpassing the program record for victories in a season, which was set with 17 in 2014.

"We have a very determined and hungry team. Making the Sweet 16 last year has pushed us even more," Ralton said. "Our whole saying this year is going from great to elite."

Junior Grace McGill leads the team with nine goals. Senior Bailey Oetinger, sophomore Blanca Cruz and sophomore Nina Lopez have each scored eight goals for UNG this season, with senior Kyleigh Drew adding seven. Eight Nighthawks have at least three assists.

Ahead of the PBC and NCAA tournaments, Ralton is now 69-23-12 in six seasons at the helm of the UNG women's soccer program. This season will mark her fifth NCAA tournament appearance, meaning the Nighthawks have made the tournament every season it has been held under her direction.

PBC women's soccer tournament

Nov. 8 (quarterfinals)

No. 7 South Carolina Beaufort at No. 2 Lander, 1 p.m.

No. 8 Clayton State at No. 1 North Georgia, 2 p.m.

No. 6 USC Aiken at No. 3 Columbus State, 2 p.m.

No. 5 Flagler at No. 4 Georgia College & State University, 2 p.m.

Nov. 12 (semifinals)

UNG-Clayton State winner vs. Georgia College-Flagler winner, 5 p.m.

Lander-South Carolina Beaufort winner vs. Columbus State-USC Aiken winner, 5 p.m.

Nov. 15 (championship)

Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.