From First Academy Goal to Nationals
- Sadie Morrison
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Chasity Jennings scored the first goal in Geranium City FC girls program history in October 2024. This week, she takes the field for the club's first-ever women's team at nationals.
In October 2024, Chasity Jennings scored the first goal in the history of the club's girls program. She was a U19 at the time, playing in the girls academy's inaugural season under Georgia Revolution FC, at a point in the year when the team was still searching for its first win.
Two years later, Jennings is on the field for Geranium City FC's women's first team, also in its inaugural season, as the club heads to the UPSLW Nationals this week. She is a direct link between the two programs.
Jennings' U19 side was one of the club's first two girls' teams, alongside a U14 team, launched under Georgia Revolution FC after years spent building the boys program up to a full slate of age groups.
"I remember at that point in the season, we hadn't won any games, it was either a tie or loss, unfortunately," Jennings said. "When I got that goal, there was this weight lifted off my shoulders like, we can do what we thought was impossible this season. It was a happy moment for myself and an amazing memory to share with my teammates."
At the time, the significance didn't fully register.
"I didn't really realize the gravity of essentially making history in that moment," she said. "Honestly, I don’t think anybody on the team at that point realized that, we were all just happy to be in that moment. It definitely feels like more of a big deal now, looking back."
The girls program has continued to grow since that first season. "Back then it was very fresh for the coaches, for the girls coming in, and for the club in general," Jennings said. "Now compared to then, it's as if the girls program has skyrocketed. More girls are in the program at a younger age, and it's getting the attention it deserves."
Jennings' head coach on that U19 academy side, Lewis Green, is now an assistant coach with the Geranium City women's team. He is one of a handful of familiar faces bridging the club's two "first" seasons.
Being part of the youth program's first season meant there wasn't a clear path to follow at the time. What matters more to Jennings now is what the moment means for the girls coming up behind her, who now have a clear path that she helped forge.
"For me, I knew I wanted to play at the next level and prepare for college, but it wasn't a straightforward plan. There were a lot of maybes and a lot of suggestions on how to prepare for that," she said. "Now that Geranium City has blossomed, young girls can also know that there is a pathway that is more straightforward for them. And I think that’s beautiful because there are so many other parts of the world or country where young girls don’t get this opportunity, and I’m just glad that the opportunity is here now. It can only go up from here."
That pathway Jennings mentioned is getting more direct by the season. This fall, the girls youth program moves under Geranium City FC for the first time, bringing every age group together under one crest.
At nationals, Jennings said she's looking forward to the competition. "I can't wait for other teams to see that the first Geranium City team from McDonough, Georgia has much to bring to the table," she said. "I want people to know this is a program that values true teamwork, all-out effort, and positivity. I think the bond that everyone has with each other is what makes our skill, our ambition, our game IQ, and even our energy just exude after every training session and every game. I hope people see that in the way we play."
Geranium City FC will be representing McDonough at the UPSLW National Championship Tournament July 24-26th in Irvine, California.
Photo Credits: Matt Laczko (@laczkoart on Instagram)
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