Elphick Has Stellar Freshman Season at UGA

Lily Kate Elphick didn’t waste any time making an impact on the University of Georgia women’s soccer team as a freshman.

The 2025 graduate of Fellowship Christian School played in 18 games for the NCAA Division I Lady Dawgs and ranked third on the team with four goals and eight points. Elphick made one start and tallied 526 minutes.

On Aug. 17, she scored her first collegiate goal against the University of Albany (N.Y.). Four days later she scored the clinching goal in a 2-0 home victory over No. 12 North Carolina. She earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors (Aug. 21).

Elphick, who finished with 10 shots and six shots on goal in 2025, tallied a career-high

two goals – including the game-winner winner – in a 4-2 victory at the University of Texas on Oct. 16.

“It was so awesome,” Elphick said about her freshman year at UGA. “The people, teammates, coaches and professors made it so easy. You can’t truly prepare for college until you are there, but my coaches made it easy. Our season went well. We made it all the way to NCAA Tournament. But I wish we’d have gone further.”

The Lady Dawgs fell to Ohio State University, 2-0, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Athens on Nov. 14. UGA finished 10-5-6 overall and 6-1-3 in SEC matches in 2025.

Elphick played alongside fellow FCS graduate Cate Hardin, who graduated from Georgia in May, at midfield.

“It was the best thing ever that we were teammates at Georgia,” Elphick said. “We were teammates at Fellowship too. She is the kindest person ever, but she also challenged me to always do my best. She was my peer leader in high school [as a freshman]. We still talk all the time. We are all so proud of her [playing professional soccer].”

Elphick spent a lot of time on the field with Hardin in 2025.

“She played on the right side [midfield], and I was on the left,” Elphick said. “She was our leader. She made me feel at home on the field.”

Elphick has set some goals for the 2026 season, which begins on Aug. 6 with an exhibition match against Auburn University at home at 5:30 p.m.

“I had no idea what to expect heading into my freshman year, so knowing how it works now gives me more confidence,” Elphick said. “I want to fight for my spot on the field, practice hard and push myself. I want to play a lot and get better. It can be intimidating in college soccer, but I will put in the work. As a team, we want to win the SEC Championship and do well in NCAAs.”

Lily Kate is not the only Elphick with the experience of college athletes. Her older brother Kyle is a senior football player at Stetson University (NCAA Division I FCS). In addition, her grandfather Ken Hall – longtime FCS coach and statistician – played college basketball at George Mason University.

“My family is the best,” she said. “They travel all the time to see Kyle and I play. I look up to my brother. I see how he leads on the field and plays hard. He cares so much for his team. My grandfather is a great role model. He has given me so much advice and is so supportive.”

Elphick excelled in the classroom at UGA as well, being named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll.

During her career at FCS, she helped the Lady Paladins capture back-to-back state championships in soccer (2023 and 2024), and advance to the Sweet 16 in 2025.

She was named 2025 Co-Sub Region 5A Girls Soccer Player of the Year and was twice named to GACA Class 1-3A All-State First Team and GACA Class 1-3A Sub-Region 5A First Team. Elphick was selected for three DiVarsity All-Star Soccer Teams (2023-25) and was picked for the 2025 United Soccer Coaches Georgia All-State Team.

During a decorated club soccer career, Elphick suited up for Concorde Fire ECNL Platinum 07 and led three straight Concorde teams to ECNL Nationals. She was named to 2024 ECNL Nationals 07 Girls’ Top 11 and led Concorde to 2023 first-place finish in ECNL Southeast.

(Photos courtesy of Lily Kate Elphick)