Maddy Herniter Continues to Shine in Sophomore Season for Georgia Soccer

During the home opener against James Madison at Sanford Stadium, which set a record as the largest crowd for a collegiate soccer match with 25,433 attendees, Herniter remained composed. "The pressure was a privilege," she remarked, reflecting on the significance of playing in front of such a large audience.

Despite the intense competition and historic setting, she maintains a steady focus, emphasizing that her approach to each game remains unchanged. "It doesn't matter if they're ranked," she stated.

Head coach Keidane McAlpine supported Herniter’s mindset, noting that facing top SEC teams does not significantly alter his preparation. Herniter's growth as a player has been evident since her freshman year, where she started 17 of 19 games. McAlpine expressed pride in Herniter’s development, indicating she has improved her decision-making and tactical awareness on the field. "When you think about her freshman year, we kind of just threw her into the fire and said, 'Survive,'" McAlpine added. "She's reading and recognizing moments better; she's taken on more of a leadership role."

Herniter brings additional experience from her time with the U.S. Women’s National Team U-19 squad, which enhances her leadership capacity on the team. "Getting the experience with all these high-level players... it's about taking a piece of everyone and bringing back everything I learn in the classroom here to apply," said Herniter, who hails from Palos Verdes Estates, California.

In academics, Herniter excelled last year by earning a spot on the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll. She emphasized the importance of academic performance to her overall success: "It's hard to play well in soccer when I don't feel like I'm doing well in school."

Earlier this month, Herniter’s leadership was instrumental when the Bulldogs faced No. 2 Vanderbilt. Despite losing starting goalkeeper Jordan Brown to a red card in the first half and playing with only ten players, the Bulldogs managed to tie the match 1-1. Both McAlpine and Herniter described it as some of the best soccer the team has displayed this season.

As the Bulldogs continue their challenging schedule, they faced No. 24 Oklahoma and led 1-0 at halftime before ultimately losing 3-1. Georgia will be on the road this week for matches against Arkansas on Thursday and LSU on Sunday.