DAHLONEGA – The second-seeded University of North Georgia (UNG) women's soccer team is putting together final preparations as hosts of its side of the bracket for the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Southeast Regional Tournament. 

For the second season in a row, the Nighthawks will play NCAA Championship soccer on their home turf at the UNG Soccer Field in Dahlonega, Ga. as the No. 2 seed in the tournament. UNG will host No. 3 seed Francis Marion, No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne and No. 7 Lees-McRae at Lynn Cottrell Park on its half of the bracket. 

Francis Marion and Lenoir-Rhyne will kick off the tournament on Friday, Nov. 13 at noon, while North Georgia will match up with Lees-McRae at 3 p.m. to round out day one. The winners of those matches will advance and face each other in round two on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m. 

The Nighthawks have punched their ticket to the tournament following a 13-4-3 record through the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Tournament with a runner-up finish in the conference championship game. North Georgia has secured a spot in the Southeast Regional every season under head coach Kayley Ralton since 2021, with this year marking the program's 12th overall trip to the dance. 

UNG will take on a familiar opponent in Lees-McRae to open tournament play, as the Nighthawks and Bobcats faced off in the regular season opener on August 27. North Georgia went on the road to secure a 4-0 victory behind a brace from Nina Lopez and goals by Mady Neff and Alli Treadwell. Friday's match will serve as the first postseason meeting between the two teams. 

Lees-McRae locked up a spot in the tournament for the first time since 2011 with a 10-3-5 record and a trip to the Conference Carolinas Tournament Semifinals. 

Francis Marion (15-4-1) is back in the dance for the third-straight season after earning an automatic bid with a 1-0 victory over UNC Pembroke in the Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship. 

Lenoir-Rhyne sports a 13-6-1 and booked a spot in the tournament for the seventh year in a row after a 1-0 win over Catawba in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championship. Last season, the Bears claimed the Southeast Regional title and advanced to the national quarterfinals. 

Fans can pre-purchase general admission tickets for the tournament through UNG's HomeTown Ticketing portal at UNGAthletics.com/TICKETS or the HomeTown Ticketing app for $15 each or $10 each for seniors (65+), students and military members. Children ages 10 and under will receive free admission.  

Live coverage of the games will also be streamed for free on the Nighthawk Sports Network and/or the NCAA Championships Pass.