There are championship seasons, and then there are seasons that define an era.
Tophat Gold’s 2025-26 campaign will be remembered among the greatest in Girls Academy history after the Georgia club captured both of the league’s premier championships, defeating Indy Premier SC 3-2 in an extra-time thriller to win the U19 National Championship and complete the coveted Girls Academy double.
Already crowned 2026 Champions Cup champions in March, Tophat added the National Championship to an undefeated league season, becoming one of only a select few Girls Academy teams to capture both major trophies in the same season while completing an undefeated league campaign.
A Championship Built on Consistency
Tophat entered the National Finals as one of the nation’s elite, finishing the regular season ranked No. 3 nationally after posting a 17-0-2 overall league record and a 15-0-1 mark to claim its sixth consecutive Southeast Conference championship. Remarkably, throughout six Girls Academy seasons, this group never suffered a conference defeat, establishing one of the most dominant league runs in Girls Academy history.
From the opening match of National Finals, Tophat showed why it had spent the entire season among the country’s best. The eventual champions defeated LA Surf SC 3-0 before earning consecutive 1-0 victories over Atletico Dallas Youth and Indy Premier SC to win the group without conceding a goal.
In a dramatic 1-0 semifinal victory over West Coast FC, the team secured a trip to the National Championship with a goal in the final minute of extra time.
One Final Test: Championship Match
A familiar opponent awaited them in the championship, and the match lived up to every expectation. McKenzie Godfrey opened the scoring in the 31st minute to give Tophat a deserved 1-0 lead before Indy Premier’s Sloane May found an equalizer in the 87th minute to send the match to extra time.
Tophat responded immediately.
Nicole Noorbehesht restored the lead in the 94th minute before National Championship MVP Jordynn Gunn added what proved to be the championship-winning goal six minutes later. May struck again in the 105th minute to pull Indy Premier within one, but Tophat held firm over the closing minutes to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory.
The final served as a fitting conclusion to one of the most competitive U19 seasons in Girls Academy history, with two undefeated conference champions battling until the final whistle.
Indy Premier SC had enjoyed an equally remarkable season. The Mid-America Conference champions entered the event ranked No. 5 nationally after a 15-0-1 conference campaign and had established themselves as one of the country’s most complete teams throughout the season.
The championship match marked the third meeting between the clubs during the 2025-26 campaign. Tophat had previously eliminated Indy Premier in the Champions Cup Semifinals before edging the Indiana side 1-0 during National Finals group play. But championships have a way of creating new moments, and the final delivered exactly that.
In an entertaining extra-time battle between two of the nation’s premier clubs, Tophat emerged with a thrilling 3-2 victory to capture the Girls Academy U19 National Championship.
Jordynn Gunn earned National Championship MVP honors following another outstanding performance, while goalkeeper Adelei Utz was recognized with the tournament’s Golden Glove Award. Tophat’s balanced attack was led by McKenzie Godfrey and Eliza Barber, who each finished the tournament with three goals.
Completing the Double
“Tophat has been one of the Girls Academy’s flagship clubs since our inaugural season, consistently setting the standard for excellence both on and off the field,” said Girls Academy Commissioner Patricia Hughes.
“This U19 team represents the culmination of six years of exceptional player development, unwavering commitment, and a culture that expects to compete for championships every season. Completing the rare double by winning both the Champions Cup and National Championship while remaining undefeated in league play is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to everyone involved in the program.
“As members of the Girls Academy’s inaugural class, this group has helped shape the identity of our league from the very beginning, and they leave behind a legacy that will serve as the gold standard for future generations of Girls Academy players and clubs. Tophat has helped establish the competitive standard, demonstrate what sustained excellence looks like, and created a blueprint that will inspire clubs and players across the Girls Academy for years to come.”
Winning either the Champions Cup or the National Championship is a remarkable accomplishment. Winning both in the same season is exceptionally rare. Doing so while completing six consecutive conference championships without a league defeat further underscores the sustained excellence this group demonstrated throughout its Girls Academy journey.
Tophat’s 2025-26 season included:
Undefeated league season
Southeast Conference Champion
Champions Cup Champion
U19 National Champion
The consistency required to achieve success across an entire league season, the Champions Cup knockout rounds, and the National Finals makes the accomplishment one of the most complete seasons by any club in Girls Academy history.
The Final Chapter of the Inaugural Class
The significance of this championship extends beyond the trophy itself. The 2008/07 age group entered the Girls Academy in 2020 as the league’s very first U13 players. Over six seasons, they experienced every stage of the league’s growth—from its inaugural competitions to the evolution of the Champions Cup, expanded national events, and an increasingly competitive national landscape.
Tophat has been one of the Girls Academy’s defining programs since the league’s inaugural season. This team reached the National Playoff Semifinals at U13, advanced to the U14 National Championship Final, captured the U15 National Championship, and remained a national contender throughout the remainder of the age group’s journey. Although the team fell in the U16 National Quarterfinals and U17 National Semifinals, they returned stronger than ever—completing its historic run with both the 2026 Champions Cup and U19 National Championship.
The championship also serves as a fitting conclusion to one of the most competitive generations in league history. Throughout six seasons, clubs including Indy Premier SC, Lou Fusz Athletic, Lamorinda SC, City SC, STA, Galaxy SC, NEFC, and many others helped establish a standard of excellence that elevated the Girls Academy year after year.
A Place in Girls Academy History
Every championship leaves a legacy.
Some define a season.
Others define a generation.
By completing an undefeated league campaign, winning the Champions Cup, and lifting the U19 National Championship trophy, Tophat Gold 2008 has secured its place among the most accomplished teams in Girls Academy history.
As the inaugural Girls Academy class now moves on to collegiate soccer and beyond, Tophat’s remarkable season stands as the perfect closing chapter to the league’s first six years—a journey built on excellence, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to competing at the highest level.
A Class Ready for the Next Level
While the U19 National Championship marked the end of Tophat’s Girls Academy journey, it also marked the beginning of the next chapter for one of the league’s most accomplished graduating classes.
Fourteen members of the championship squad have committed to continue their careers at the collegiate level, including NCAA Division I programs such as Stanford, Michigan, Notre Dame, Kentucky, Georgia, BYU, Syracuse, Creighton, Coastal Carolina, Queens University, and others.
The class reflects the Girls Academy’s commitment to preparing players for success beyond youth soccer while competing for championships at the highest level.
Tophat Through the Years
Season/Age/Achievement
2020-21: U13 National Semifinalist
2021-22: U14 National Finalist
2022-23: U15 National Champion
2023-24: U16 National Quarterfinalist
2024-25: U17 National Semifinalist • 3rd Place Finish
2025-26: U19 National Champion • Champions Cup Champion • Undefeated League Season
Six seasons ago, this group helped launch the Girls Academy as members of its inaugural U13 class. Six undefeated conference championships later, they leave as National Champions, Champions Cup winners, and one of the most accomplished teams in league history—a legacy that will serve as a benchmark for future Girls Academy generations.
2026 Tophat Gold College Commitments
Stanford — Kennedy Kelly
Notre Dame — Bristol Kersh*
Michigan — Ellie Lesser
Kentucky — McKenzie Godfrey
Georgia — Lola Manuel
BYU — Sydney Snow
Syracuse — Mady Wright
Creighton — Kassey Dzenis
Coastal Carolina — Addie Utz
Queens University — Aubrey Hester
University of Chicago — Anne-Marie Adefinisan
Johns Hopkins — Molly Laing
North Georgia — Nicole Noorbehesht
New Haven — Lexi Goodman
Bristol Kersh is a reclassified 2009 who returns with the U17 squad competing this week for another National Championship.
Beyond the Girls Academy
Tophat’s success also translated to the national stage. Following the National Championship, Brynna Burrus and McKenzie Godfrey were invited to attend the U.S. Under-19 Women’s Youth National Team training camp held June 26–July 3, providing another example of the pathway from Girls Academy competition to opportunities at the highest levels of the game.