The Peach Belt Conference has crowned its first rising star of the season, naming University of North Georgia freshman forward Maxwell Mitchell as Men’s Soccer Player of the Week! In his collegiate debut, Mitchell wasted no time making an impact, leading the Nighthawks to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Francis Marion at the 16th Annual Laker Loch-In Classic.
From the opening whistle, Mitchell’s electric pace and sharp footwork were on full display. In the first half, he dazzled the crowd with a stunning solo effort, dancing past two defenders from outside the penalty box before curling a left-footed strike into the top right corner of the net for his first collegiate goal.
But Mitchell wasn’t done yet. In the second half, he added to his highlight reel with a superb finish off a set piece, contorting his body mid-air to direct the ball home and give UNG a 2-1 advantage. That brace proved pivotal as the Nighthawks secured their first win over FMU since 2018.
Mitchell’s performance marked the first brace by a UNG freshman since Jack Newhouse in 2019 and earned him the PBC Player of the Week honors—a rare feat for a freshman. He is the first Nighthawk to win a weekly conference award since Hazel Ley in 2022, and the first freshman to be named PBC Player of the Week since Manuel Hernandez in 2011.
Though a freshman on the pitch, the Dacula, Ga. native is no stranger to college life. A Mill Creek High School graduate, Mitchell spent his first year at Georgia State, where he honed his skills playing club soccer before transferring to UNG for his big breakout.
Mitchell and the Nighthawks will be back in action this Wednesday, Sept. 11, for a 7 p.m. showdown against Young Harris at UNG Soccer Field in Lynn Cottrell Park. Don’t miss it as the Nighthawks look to keep the momentum going!
