July 12, 2026
Photo by Bryant Alvarez
WOODSTOCK, Ga. — Georgia Impact’s dream season continues.
On Saturday, the Southeast Conference winners outlasted two-time WPSL champions Pensacola FC, scoring four second-half goals at Woodstock High School to clinch its first ever South Region title.
With the win, Georgia Impact moves on to the WPSL Championships kicking off on Saturday in Riverside, Mo. Georgia Impact will face East Region winners, New York Athletic Club.
After a slow start from both teams, it was Georgia Impact that began to tilt the field in its favor following the first-half hydration break. Through the end of the first half and into the second, Georgia Impact upped the pressure on the Pensacola back line, forcing Karla Guzman-Ortiz into repeated action.
Callie O'Connor finally broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, cleaning up a Sarah Houston shot Guzman-Ortiz could not hold from 12-yards out. The quick counter was started from a flick from Harper Hudepohl putting Houston on to goal. Coming well off her line to face Houston's shot, Guzman-Ortiz parried shot fell to the feet of O'Connor, who slammed home the game's first goal to put Georgia Impact up 1-0.
Having endured more than three hours of weather delays and then played 120 minutes in the oppressive Georgia humidity less than 24 hours earlier, Pensacola FC's fatigue became palpable.
Georgia Impact took full advantage of Pensacola's heavy legs, doubling its lead in the 56th minute when Maria Howell forced a turnover. Howell gained possession and played Houston through, pulling Guzman-Ortiz off her line before slotting it to the far post.
The floodgates opened from there.
Brooke Hart made it 3-0 in the 67th minute after sneaking in unmarked on the right flank. A simple ball through the Pensacola back line put Heart in on goal, drawing Guzman-Ortiz off her line. A touch to the left and a step-over froze Guzman-Ortiz, allowing Hart to slide the ball past her to all but clinch the win.
Obradovac tallied her second postseason goal to make it 4-0 in the 75th minute, collecting a long clearance from Kennedy Vinyard on the right flank. Obradovac cut in towards goal, wrong-footing two Pensacola defenders and slotting the ball past Guzman-Ortiz to send Georgia Impact through to the WPSL Championships next weekend.
Georgia Impact goalkeeper Jaddah Foos earned her second consecutive postseason clean sheet, which included a flurry of saves in the wiring moments of the match as Pensacola fought desperately to leave a mark on the game.
Though the two sides had not faced each other before in WPSL play, there were familiar faces on both sides. Sisters Angel and Roxi Fowler from London, England, were advisories in Sunday’s South Region Final. Angel, who finished her eligibility last year at Marshall University, played for Georgia Impact and younger sister, Roxi, a sophomore at Motlow State College, played for Pensacola FC. Both Fowlers started on defense in Sunday’s final.
Georgia Impact now moves on to the WPSL Championships Semifinal July 18 in Riverside, Mo. Georgia Impact will face East Region winners, New York Athletic Club. This is both clubs’ first WPSL Championships appearance. Kickoff for Saturday’s semifinal is scheduled for 9 a.m. CDT at Riverside Stadium.
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WPSL South Region Final
Sunday, July 12, 2026
4 p.m. EDT
Woodstock High School
Woodstock, Ga.
Georgia Impact: 4
Pensacola FC: 0
1-0: O’Connor 53’
2-0: Houston 56’
3-0: Hart 67’
4-0: Obradovac
Misconduct: None
Georgia Impact: Jaddah Foos; Kennedy Crowder, Angel Fowler, Sammy Sokolove; Maggie Victor, Harper Hudepohl; Sarah Houston Grace Eatz, Bailey Vinette; Callie O'Connor, Ines Obradovac. Substitutes: Brooke Hart, Claudia Vincent, Emory Kennett, Katie Neilson, Kennedy Vinyard, Madison Hook, Maria Howell, Olivia Flores, Summer Ligon.
Pensacola FC: Karla Guzman-Ortiz; Bela Labovic, Roxie Fowler, Jillian Thompson, Lindsay Gill; Katja May, Ayla Ertekin, Danika Wright, Elaine Farabaugh, Rainey Toulson; Elaine Farabaugh. Substitutes: Roxie Fowler, Roxie Fowler, Marlene Flores.
