Soccer in Sanford: Bulldogs set new Division I attendance record

  • A record crowd packed Sanford Stadium on Aug. 20 to watch Georgia women’s soccer against James Madison, setting a new NCAA attendance record. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff
    A record crowd packed Sanford Stadium on Aug. 20 to watch Georgia women’s soccer against James Madison, setting a new NCAA attendance record. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff
  • The Georgia women's soccer team runs out onto the field from the football team's locker room. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff
    The Georgia women's soccer team runs out onto the field from the football team's locker room. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff
  • Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart signing autographs at the soccer game. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff
    Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart signing autographs at the soccer game. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff
  • Senior midfielder Honoka Hamano attempts a shot on goal from outside the box. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff
    Senior midfielder Honoka Hamano attempts a shot on goal from outside the box. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff

    The University of Georgia women’s soccer team made history by hosting James Madison University on Aug. 20 on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium. 

    The Dawgs defeated the Dukes 6-0 and broke the NCAA Division I attendance records for both men’s and women’s regular-season soccer games.

    The Thursday evening event was free to the public and drew 25,433 attendees, breaking the previous NCAA women’s attendance record of 14,410 set in 1999, as well as the overall record of 22,512 set in a men’s match in 1980.

    To kick off the game, UGA’s soccer team ran onto the field from the east end zone. Many younger fans and local soccer programs were invited to line the tunnel and greet the players as they proceeded down the field.

    “Soccer in Sanford” marked the program’s first collegiate game in the stadium and commemorated the 30th anniversary of the 1996 U.S. women’s national team.

    The U.S. women’s national team competed at Sanford Stadium during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, defeating China 2-1 in the gold-medal match.

    Multiple student organizations appeared at the game, including the UGA Redcoat Band, Dance Dawgs, and cheerleading programs.

    UGA football head coach Kirby Smart was also in attendance and stopped to sign autographs and take photos with multiple fans. SEC Network broadcast the game and interviewed Smart from the sidelines as it progressed.

    Soccer in Sanford