Columbus State University women’s soccer standout Avery Williams has been named a Top 30 honoree for the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year Award, adding another milestone to a career defined by resilience and achievement. The award recognizes graduating female student-athletes who excel in academics, athletics, leadership, and community service.

The St. Augustine, Florida, native anchored the Cougars’ backline during the 2024 season, starting all 25 games and logging more than 2,000 minutes while helping limit opponents to just 12 goals. She earned first-team All-Peach Belt Conference honors and was named the 2024 Peach Belt Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

“For her to overcome not one, not two, but three ACL surgeries in four years to accomplish what she did in 2024 was truly incredible,” Cougars head coach Jay Entlich said. “Her work on and off the field is a testament to perseverance and grit. In the end, her commitment to work rate and discipline is why she has accomplished so much in such a short amount of time.”

Williams’ success reflects the growing culture of excellence within the Columbus State women’s soccer program. Off the field, she has logged more than 500 community service hours while maintaining a strong balance between academics and athletics.

For the Cougars, Williams’ national recognition has helped elevate Columbus State’s profile, setting a standard of perseverance and leadership that will define the program’s future.

Drew Renner

Emory is closing in on a record-breaking women’s soccer season in 2025. The Eagles are ranked No. 1 in the University Athletic Association with 13 wins and six straight shutouts. Emory has posted 11 shutouts overall, marking one of just 19 seasons in program history with at least 10.

In their first match as the top-ranked team, the Eagles defeated No. 25 NYU 4-0 at home for their third win over a ranked opponent this year. Three players scored in the victory, including freshman Sophia Asiain, who netted her first career goal in the eighth minute and added another in the 13th.

The Eagles also finished their nonconference schedule unbeaten, routing Maryville 5-0 at home for their sixth consecutive shutout. Emory outshot Maryville 29-3 in the win, highlighting a dominant defense. Emory hosts No. 3 Chicago on Oct. 24 and No. 2 WashU on Oct. 26 in a pivotal weekend.

Virginia Miller

Georgia Southern boasted an impressive defense prior to the start of conference play, conceding just three goals in eight nonconference games. The Eagles had a dream start to Sun Belt play, taking down Old Dominion and current No. 9 Marshall 2-1. The win snapped a three game losing streak against the current NCAA championship runners-up.

Since then, Georgia Southern has won just one conference game, a 1-0 victory over Coastal Carolina — while losing three. The Eagles’ defense has struggled more in conference play, conceding eight goals so far. They have not been able to beat a ranked opponent since Marshall, losing 2-0 to West Virginia and 2-1 to Kentucky. Georgia Southern also lost 3-0 to UCF, conceding as many goals against the Knights alone as they did in all of nonconference play. Despite these ranked losses, Georgia Southern is ranked twentieth in the NCAA.

Senior goalkeeper Nate Martinez has not missed a minute of play this season. He has registered 18 saves in conference play with a save percentage of 67%. In the victory over Coastal Carolina, Martinez set a program record with 16 clean sheets. Forward Ricky Louis has scored two goals in Sun Belt play, both in the match against Marshall.The sophomore has recorded a total of 13 shots in conference play more than anyone else on the team.

Junior forward Ryan Holmes has also scored twice in conference play from just nine shots. The Eagles have three more Sun Belt games left before the tournament, with the next one against James Madison.

Ethan Wilcox

This week’s men’s college soccer action featured an intense matchup between Georgia State and Coastal Carolina. Despite outshooting Coastal Carolina 20-8, the Panthers fell 3-1 on the road in a game defined by physical play and quick momentum swings.

The first half was tightly contested, with the two teams combining for 13 fouls and two yellow cards, but Coastal Carolina managed to take a 1-0 lead just before halftime. Georgia State briefly responded in the second half as Virgil Dall’Agnol scored his first goal of the season just five minutes after the break, leveling the match at 1-1. However, Coastal Carolina quickly regained the lead and added an insurance goal with less than 18 minutes remaining, ultimately sealing a 3-1 victory.

What made the game particularly compelling was the contrast between Georgia State’s offensive dominance in shots and Coastal Carolina’s clinical finishing. Despite the loss, Dall’Agnol contributed to his season stats with one goal and three assists, showing promise for the Panthers as they enter upcoming conference play.

Looking ahead, Georgia State will return home to defend its undefeated record against Central Florida on Sunday, October 26, at 4:00 p.m. This matchup will be closely watched, as the Panthers aim to turn their strong shot creation into results against a tough UCF squad. With both teams in the middle of conference play, each result could have a significant impact on the standings heading into the end of October.

Cortland Tollmann

Mercer women’s soccer continued its preparation for the Southern Conference tournament with two narrow wins and a lopsided loss. The Bears began this stretch by eking out a 1-0 victory over UNC Greensboro in Macon on Oct. 11. The Spartans weathered eight Mercer shots to only three of their own in a scoreless first half, but the dam finally broke just after the break as Morganne Eikelbarner scored her eighth goal of the year in the 47th minute to break a tie with Payton Nutzman for the team lead.

Any momentum Mercer might have gained from this hard-fought win was immediately halted by a 3-0 thumping at home to Samford on Oct. 16. Even though shots were even in both halves, the Bulldogs broke the deadlock in the 19th minute and never looked back, doubling their lead just before the break in the 44th minute and sealing the deal just after the hour mark in the 61st minute. Mercer quickly moved on from this drubbing, though, getting back on track with a 1-0 win away to The Citadel on Oct. 19. The Bears outshot their hosts 10-8, but for most of the match neither side could break through the other until Sydney Farr gave Mercer a late lead in the 77th minute.

With these mixed results, Mercer now sits at 8-6-2 overall and sports a 3-3-2 conference record. Those 11 points put Mercer in fifth place and mid-table in the SoCon standings. The Bears will finish up regular-season play at home against Wofford on Oct. 26 before kicking off the SoCon tournament with either a play-in match on Oct. 28 or a quarterfinal on Oct. 31.

Jake Branan

North Georgia's women's soccer team secured the Peach Belt Conference regular-season title Oct. 22 with a 2-0 victory over Georgia College. The Nighthawks finished conference play undefeated at 9-0-0, earning their second title in three years and a spot in the league tournament starting in November. It is also the second regular-season crown for head coach Kayley Ralton.

Senior midfielder Chloe Diaz opened the scoring in the 18th minute, and senior forward Bailey Oetinger added a second goal off an assist from junior Grace McGill. Oetinger’s goal was her seventh of the season. UNG’s defense shut down the Bobcats, ending their eight-match win streak and holding them without a shot on goal. The Nighthawks recorded seven shots on frame, leaving goalkeeper Isabelle Lee without a save attempt.

UNG faces Lenoir-Rhyne in nonconference play Oct. 29 before the Peach Belt quarterfinals Nov. 8.

Gianna Uvari

After winning five consecutive games and coming off a 4-1 victory over Clayton State, North Georgia men's soccer returns home to host Middle Georgia on Senior Day at 5 p.m. The Nighthawks enter the matchup with a strong record ((8-3-4, 7-1-1)), but their home dominance adds another layer of difficulty for Georgia Middle. North Georgia remains unbeaten at the UNG Soccer Complex this season ((4-0 -3), ), making their home field one of the toughest in the league for any opponent.

A major factor in North Georgia’s recent success has been its potent offense. Jorge Sandoval has been a key contributor to the team’s attacking efforts. His two goals against Clayton State secured another win for the Nighthawks and marked his second multi-goal game of the season. Will Bentle also found the back of the net for the third time this season, and Tyler Vitelli sealed the 4-1 victory with a late goal to put the game out of reach.

On the defensive side, UNG has been equally consistent and balanced, performing well both at home and on the road. Goalkeeper Aleksa Lukic made six crucial saves against the Lakers, sending a clear message to opposing attackers: scoring won’t be easy. Beyond Lukic’s standout performances, the Nighthawks’ defense is physically imposing, tactically aware, and capable of adapting to different offensive strategies throughout a match.

If the old adage that “a win leads to more wins” holds true, North Georgia enters its next three games against Middle Georgia, Lander, and Flagler with confidence, unity, and the ambition to extend their winning streak. A strong finish would be a highlight on their season resume.

Massimo Bellew

Florida Krush have been off to an incredible start, with six wins and no losses. Aside from the victories, what is surprising everyone is their ability not to concede. So far, they have allowed the opposition to score three goals on them. If we stand by the words of a confident Sir Alex Ferguson, who said, "attack wins you games, defense wins you titles," then the Florida Krush right now are looking excellent in the long battle they will have to fight against their opposition. Behind them at 16 points, with five wins and one tie, are GSA, a solid team that has yet to be beaten in the league. So far, their most important victory of the season came against Concorde Fire Premier, now in third place with 18 points, just like Florida Krush. Their only tie came against CESA Liberty, a formidable opponent now ranked 4th in the league with 13 points. But outside of that, they have won four of five games by two goals or more, exemplifying their superiority on the field. Finally comes Concorde Fire Premier. Yes, they have the same points as Florida Krush; however, they have also played more games—specifically, 2 more than their direct opponents. They are the team that scored the most in the league, but they are also the sixth-worst defense. This data shows that their style of play is directed at creating opportunities for their strikers, even if that means forcing their defenders to deal with dangerous counterattacks. As the race for the ECNL Southeast G2012 title unfolds, the potential for unexpected shifts is ever-present. The contenders are emerging, but the outcome is far from certain. Every mistake, every game, could alter the course of this thrilling race. Massimo Bellew

Savannah United 10G Blue CH has claimed the top spot in the 15/16UG Championship of the South Georgia Premier League, going a perfect 7-0-0. The team has scored 39 goals while allowing just three, and in its last five matchups, Savannah United has shut out every opponent, outscoring them by a combined 27-0. Goalkeeper Jane Ringham was recognized for her outstanding play, earning Enmarket’s Select Player of the Month for September.

In second place, TCSA Flames G15U sits at 4-2-0 with 20 points, with both losses coming against league leaders Savannah United. UFA South Georgia 11/12G Premier holds third place with 10 points through five games, posting a 2-3-0 record. Rounding out the standings are Hinesville-based programs: Hinesville SA-Waycross GU16 has one win through four games while allowing 19 goals, and Hinesville Soccer Association G15U remains winless in six matchups, with a -21 goal differential.

This weekend promises more exciting action in the league. On Saturday, Hinesville SA-Waycross GU16 faces TCSA Flames G15U at Ware County Soccer Complex, while Hinesville Soccer Association G15U takes on UFA South Georgia 11/12G Premier at FPCA Field. On Sunday, Savannah United 10G Blue CH will host Hinesville SA-Waycross GU16 at Chatham County Soccer Complex, followed by TCSA Flames G15U facing UFA South Georgia 11/12G Premier at Paul Thigpen Chevrolet.

Wesley Webb

Concorde Fire Platinum currently sits unbeaten atop the 2010 Girls ECNL table after 10 games, holding a 9-0-1 record. The only other undefeated team in the league, Florida Premier FC, sits 12 points behind Fire Platinum, as FPFC has played only six total games at this stage.

Atlanta Fire United and GSA have the second- and third-most points, respectively. Atlanta Fire United is 8-1-1 with 25 points, while GSA trails just behind at 8-2-0 with 24 points.

In the lower leagues, Athens United leads the SCCL Champions League with 22 points, while GSA East trails with 19. A win for Athens United on Nov. 9 over eighth-place Inter Atlanta Blue would secure the league title for the Athenians.

SSA Coweta and YMCA Arsenal Rome Red appear to be on a collision course in SCCL Premier 1, as both teams are undefeated at 6-0-0. The two sides were supposed to meet earlier in the season, but weather forced the match to be postponed. As of now, it has not been rescheduled, so fans will have to wait to see when the much-anticipated matchup will take place.

Concorde Fire Cobb Black leads SCCL Premier 2, with SSA Swarm Cartersville close behind. Concorde has just three matches remaining to secure the title, holding a six-point lead over Athens United Black. The two will meet on Nov. 9 to close the season in a game where Athens United Black could theoretically overtake Concorde Fire Cobb Black with a win.

— Jack Little

Concorde Fire Platinum ECNL B11 continues to dominate the U15 division of the Elite Clubs National League Southeast conference. The team has won all eight of its games so far and sits atop the standings with 24 points.

Concorde Fire Platinum won its conference last season in the U14 division, going undefeated with 14 wins and one draw. The team scored 67 goals while allowing only six.

This season, Concorde Fire continues to score at an impressive rate with 41 goals. The team with the second-most goals is Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA) Triumph with 24 of their own. with 24. The Fire has conceded seven goals more than it did last year.

The team is halfway through its season with eight more games to go. Although they have dominated the competition so far, they have yet to face the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the standings.

NTH North Atlanta Soccer Association (NASA) has six wins and one loss for 18 points, and Atlanta Fire United has seven wins and one loss has seven wins and one loss for 22 points. Concorde Fire Platinum will play both of these teams twice over the next month. With both programs right behind the Fire, stealing any points from the first-place team could prove crucial to the final standings.

Concorde Fire Platinum next faces Concorde Fire Premier on Oct. 26. The two Concorde Fire teams faced off earlier in the season, with Platinum winning 4-0.

Blake Caviness

The rankings for the ECNL Boys Southeast Conference have changed significantly since the beginning of the season. Notably, three Georgia teams hold the top three spots in the conference: NASA Tophat, ranked first; United Futbol Academy, second; and Concorde Fire Platinum, third.

Within those top rankings, United Futbol Academy has already faced NASA Tophat and splitting results, with Tophat winning one match 3-2 and losing the other 3-1. Even with a 5-2 record, NASA Tophat remains ranked first in the conference.

NASA Tophat’s next major challenge will be against Concorde Fire Platinum when they face the No. 3-ranked team for the first time this season. United Futbol Academy has already played both of the other Georgia teams in the top three. UFA can add to its résumé a 2-1 win over Concorde Fire Platinum and currently holds a 7-3 record to sit second in the ECNL Boys Southeast Conference. The two teams are set for a rematch on Nov. 8.

The 2025 season still has many games left for all Georgia U17 ECNL boys teams, and the rankings are bound to change as the top programs continue to face one another.

Virginia Miller

In a tight matchup against undefeated South Carolina Surf, the No. 4 United Futbol Academy U18 girls team tied the No. 1 team in the ECNL Southeast region, 1-1, at Shea Family Fields.

The result bumps United Futbol Academy above No. 5 Concorde Fire Premier in the standings, making UFA the highest-ranked Georgia U18 club in the ECNL Southeast region with a 5-3-4 record.

Concorde Fire Premier, ranked No. 5 in the region, holds a 5-4-4 record. In its most recent match, Concorde tied No. 13 Gwinnett Soccer Academy, 1-1.

Both United Futbol Academy and Concorde Fire Premier have 19 points this season, tied with CESA Liberty. However, UFA holds a slight edge in points per game, 1.58 to Concorde’s 1.46. Defensively, UFA has been stronger, allowing just 11 goals this season compared to Concorde’s 21.

Gwinnett Soccer Academy has struggled this season, posting a 1-8-4 record and conceding 38 goals.

Concorde Fire Premier will face No. 6 Charlotte SA Gold on Oct. 25 at 11 a.m. at Georgia Soccer Park. United Futbol Academy will meet fellow Georgia club Gwinnett Soccer Academy later that day, Oct. 25, at 3 p.m. at Fowler Park.

Gianna Uvari

Georgia’s youth soccer scene is thriving across both the boys’ and girls’ Elite Clubs National league (ECNL) and Southeastern Clubs Champions League (SCCL) levels — but the success is coming from different places. The clubs dominating the U-19 girls’ standings are not the same ones leading on the U-19 boys’ side, showing how different programs across the state are finding their own paths to the top.

FL Premier FC lead the girls’ ECNL standings, having won five of six matches and conceding only five goals. CESA Liberty and United Futbol Academy trail the lead, each with seven wins in ten matches. UFA tops the goal-scoring category with 29 goals for, scoring three of these versus FL Premier FC on Sept. 27 for a significant 3-1 win in the league. CESA Liberty went on to defeat UFA 2-1 on Oct. 18,  keeping the title race tight as FL Premier FC continues to hold the top spot. FL Premier FC and CESA Liberty’s matchup is set for Oct. 26.

On the ECNL boys’ side, NTH-NASA leads with a 5-1-1 record in the league, tallying 15 goals and conceding five. GSA rests in second place with a 6-2-2 record, and Concorde Fire Platinum, leading goal-scoring with 23, ranks third. Early in the season, NTH-NASA and GSA shared a 2-2 draw on Aug. 23. Then, GSA overtook Concorde Fire Platinum 3-2 in a later match on Sept. 20.

Concorde Fire Platinum will take on NTH-NASA on Nov. 1 — a matchup that could further shake up an already tight battle among Georgia’s top boys’ clubs. Undefeated Rome Arsenal ranks No. 1 in girls’ SCCL Champions League standings. The boys’ SCCL Champions League leader SSA Swarm are also undefeated.

With different clubs finding success across both ECNL and SCCL leagues, Georgia’s youth soccer landscape continues to showcase a growing pool of talent on both the boys’ and girls’ sides.

Drew Renner