The South Georgia State College (SGSC) Lady Hawks are preparing for the 2026 soccer season with a strong foundation, a competitive schedule and the goal of continuing the program’s recent success.
SGSC enters the fall after an outstanding 2025 season that included an 11-3 overall record, a GCAA regular season and Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association conference championship, a trip to postseason NJCAA Southeast District Championships, as well as sophomore Bailey Maroney earning GCAA Player of the Year, and head coach Lisa Gonzalez-Lytle being named GCAA 2025 Region Coach of the Year. That success helped establish the Lady Hawks as one of the top programs in the conference and gives this year’s team a standard to build upon.
The focus for Coach Gonzalez-Lytle and the Lady Hawks is on developing the 2026 team as a group, building chemistry and preparing for the challenges of another full season.
Gonzalez brings an extensive background as both a player and coach to the program. Prior to joining SGSC, she coached at Jeff Davis High School, where she led the program to a region championship, 20-1 winning season, and deep state playoff runs. She was also recognized as the 2022 Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year. Her collegiate playing experience included Navarro College, Stephen F. Austin State University, and Angelo State University.
“The athletes that form the team this year are explosive, dynamic, energetic, passionate, fun, determined, and most of all committed to the name on their jersey. Team chemistry, especially for female athletes, is crucial for a successful program on and off the field. From Jiu Jitsu class to the days after training spent fishing, and even some rainy-day homemade slip and slides, these ladies keep me on my toes,” says Gonzalez. “My expectation this season is to supersede what was done last year in terms of records and stats within the GCAA and NJCAA, maintain the reputation of developing good soccer and players, and to continue to build a platform other higher-level colleges can count on for recruiting in the state of Georgia. South Georgia State soccer is not a place to come play if you’re wanting to ‘retire,’ because our players are transferring out to North Georgia, Georgia College, Middle Georgia State, Georgia Southwestern, Georgia Gwinnett College, and many more. The truth is you may start here, but the possibilities of where you could end up take flight.”
The Lady Hawks will face a mix of conference and non-conference opponents throughout the fall. Early-season contests provide opportunities for the team to establish its identity before moving deeper into GCAA competition.
One of the first key matchups comes Thursday, Aug. 27, when SGSC hosts Gordon State College at 3 p.m. The game will renew a competitive conference matchup between the two programs and give the Lady Hawks an early opportunity to measure themselves against a familiar opponent.
The 2026 schedule also includes contests against #1 Daytona State, USC- Lancaster, Georgia Military College, Central Georgia Technical College, Southern Crescent Technical College and several other opponents. SGSC will play both at home and on the road throughout September and October before the conference postseason begins.
With a championship season behind them, the Lady Hawks understand that every year presents a new challenge. The 2026 team will look to establish its own identity through strong team play, consistency and continued development throughout the season.
As the Lady Hawks begin another year of competition, the program’s focus remains on representing SGSC well on the field, in the classroom and throughout the community while competing for another opportunity to contend for the GCAA title.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Lady Hawks throughout the fall and support the team at home matches on the South Georgia State College Douglas campus.
For the complete schedule, game updates and additional information about SGSC Athletics, visit sgsc.edu.
