Box Score DAHLONEGA — A regular season title on the line on the final day of the regular season provided an energetic atmosphere as the University of North Georgia women's soccer team channeled that energy to win the program's first Peach Belt Conference regular season title in program history. The Nighthawks took down the Columbus State Cougars 2-1 at the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park, taking their first lead with 50 seconds left.

It was a night to remember as UNG dethroned CSU at the top of PBC standings, needing an outright win to become champions with the Cougars having the tiebreaker. An early goal by Sarah Hungerford set the Cougars up with a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute. Katey Derkay would not allow North Georgia to go quietly, finding the equalizer moments later in the 28th minute off an assist by Alex Clark and Arielle Aronoff. 

The 28th-minute goal was Derkay's seventh of the season as the Nighthawks continued to press, needing one more to put themselves at the top of the table. After the halftime break, CSU's defenders held firm, withstanding a barrage of attacks from the UNG side as both squads lived up to the billing.

As time was running out on the Nighthawks' quest for a conference title, a foul inside the box made way for senior Maysoon El-Shami to step to the penalty spot with just under one minute remaining in the game. In the final moments of the regular season, El-Shami placed the penalty kick in the bottom left corner, sending the shot past the keeper and Nighthawks to the top of the PBC standings. North Georgia would hold on for the remaining 50 seconds, completing a historic victory.

The win marked the 13th of the season, as North Georgia won their fifth straight game and remained unbeaten at home in the 2023 regular season. Their 13th win also marks the transition into the postseason, as North Georgia will host the opening round of the PBC tournament with the date set for Monday (Nov. 6), with times to be announced at a later date. The Nighthawks will host eighth-seeded Georgia Southwestern.