University of Georgia Athletics
Filson, Hardin Have Formed Lasting Bond
October 09, 2025 | Soccer, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Before Millie Filson and Cate Hardin were Georgia soccer teammates, they played against each other in high school and club competitions. They even ran against each other in cross country as seniors, Filson competing for Lakeview Academy in Gainesville, Ga., and Hardin for Fellowship Christian in Marietta.
Though, to be fair, they ran together more like teammates than competitors from rival schools in the same region. At the Class 1A Private Region 6 Championship in October 2021, Filson placed fifth and Hardin sixth.
"At this point, we knew each other, we had both committed (to Georgia), so we ran the race together," Hardin said.
And chit-chatted throughout the 5K course.
"Yes, we were," Hardin said with a laugh.
"The whole time," Filson said. "Her coach thought we were competing; he didn't know we were running together."
"We pushed each other," Hardin said.
Those were the early days of a burgeoning friendship.
"When that conversation happened during the cross-country meet, it was easy," Filson said. "That was the first time we actually sat down, well, we weren't sitting, but it was the first time we really talked."
When told at the start of an interview after practice Tuesday morning that this story was about their friendship — and the fact that they are among the last players on the No. 22-ranked Bulldogs' roster from the pre-Keidane McAlpine days, when Billy Lesesne was the head coach — the two seniors responded in the same way at the same time: "Awwwww!!!"
By the time they raced together in that cross-country meet, Filson had already committed to the Bulldogs and Hardin was still exploring her options. They took their official visits to Georgia at the same time the following spring.
"There was a moment during the visit when Millie looked at me and she goes, 'I think we're going to be best friends,'" Hardin said.
How sweet is that?
"It was really sweet," Hardin said.
"I just knew," Filson said.
Now, as the seniors head toward the final four regular-season games of their careers, starting with Friday's big matchup against No. 6 Arkansas at the Turner Soccer Complex, they're a part of a much different program from the one they joined in 2022.
McAlpine took over as head coach in December 2021, coming from USC, where he led the Trojans to an NCAA title in 2016. Georgia has reached the NCAA tournament three years in a row, won the 2023 SEC tournament, and is becoming a destination program for some of the top players in the country.
"I'd say the camaraderie of the whole program is one of the things that stands out" about the past few seasons, said Filson, a midfielder who has started two games this season and appeared in 10, with one assist. "We are able to compete on the field, and also push each other to do better off the field. I think those relationships off the field translate back onto the field. We're close on and off the field, which helps so much."
"It's been really cool to see the evolution of the team," said Hardin, a starting defender/midfielder with one goal and four assists so far this season. "We've always been a really great team since we've been here, and with Keidane and the staff here, we've made the NCAA tournament all three years and hopefully a fourth year."
In the age of the transfer portal, college players in all sports are moving from one school to the next regularly; Georgia has nine transfers on its roster. While a lot of the players they came in with have moved on to other places and programs, Filson and Hardin are still here.
"We've both had different roles throughout our time here, whether that's playing time or whatever, but I think our friendship, and I think I can speak for both of us, our friendship pushed both of us to stay here," Filson said. "When I wasn't playing, Cate was always there to cheer me on. When she was playing, I would always cheer her on."
"I think our friendship is definitely one of the main constants we've had all four years," Hardin said. "Through the challenges, hardships and everything, we've been able to lean on each other."
Through their friendship, their families have also gotten really close. And every morning, Hardin and Filson have breakfast together: avocado toast with two eggs on top and a cup of coffee. One of them starts cooking it while the other gets ready for class, and then they switch places.
"We've got our routine figured out," Filson said.
As they prepare to wrap up their college careers, Hardin hopes to continue playing as a professional, while Filson is ready to hang up her cleats after this season.
"I can't wait to cheer her on," Filson said.
Â
Staff Writer
Before Millie Filson and Cate Hardin were Georgia soccer teammates, they played against each other in high school and club competitions. They even ran against each other in cross country as seniors, Filson competing for Lakeview Academy in Gainesville, Ga., and Hardin for Fellowship Christian in Marietta.
Though, to be fair, they ran together more like teammates than competitors from rival schools in the same region. At the Class 1A Private Region 6 Championship in October 2021, Filson placed fifth and Hardin sixth.
"At this point, we knew each other, we had both committed (to Georgia), so we ran the race together," Hardin said.
And chit-chatted throughout the 5K course.
"Yes, we were," Hardin said with a laugh.
"The whole time," Filson said. "Her coach thought we were competing; he didn't know we were running together."
"We pushed each other," Hardin said.
Those were the early days of a burgeoning friendship.
"When that conversation happened during the cross-country meet, it was easy," Filson said. "That was the first time we actually sat down, well, we weren't sitting, but it was the first time we really talked."
When told at the start of an interview after practice Tuesday morning that this story was about their friendship — and the fact that they are among the last players on the No. 22-ranked Bulldogs' roster from the pre-Keidane McAlpine days, when Billy Lesesne was the head coach — the two seniors responded in the same way at the same time: "Awwwww!!!"
By the time they raced together in that cross-country meet, Filson had already committed to the Bulldogs and Hardin was still exploring her options. They took their official visits to Georgia at the same time the following spring.
"There was a moment during the visit when Millie looked at me and she goes, 'I think we're going to be best friends,'" Hardin said.
How sweet is that?
"It was really sweet," Hardin said.
"I just knew," Filson said.
Now, as the seniors head toward the final four regular-season games of their careers, starting with Friday's big matchup against No. 6 Arkansas at the Turner Soccer Complex, they're a part of a much different program from the one they joined in 2022.
McAlpine took over as head coach in December 2021, coming from USC, where he led the Trojans to an NCAA title in 2016. Georgia has reached the NCAA tournament three years in a row, won the 2023 SEC tournament, and is becoming a destination program for some of the top players in the country.
"I'd say the camaraderie of the whole program is one of the things that stands out" about the past few seasons, said Filson, a midfielder who has started two games this season and appeared in 10, with one assist. "We are able to compete on the field, and also push each other to do better off the field. I think those relationships off the field translate back onto the field. We're close on and off the field, which helps so much."
"It's been really cool to see the evolution of the team," said Hardin, a starting defender/midfielder with one goal and four assists so far this season. "We've always been a really great team since we've been here, and with Keidane and the staff here, we've made the NCAA tournament all three years and hopefully a fourth year."
In the age of the transfer portal, college players in all sports are moving from one school to the next regularly; Georgia has nine transfers on its roster. While a lot of the players they came in with have moved on to other places and programs, Filson and Hardin are still here.
"We've both had different roles throughout our time here, whether that's playing time or whatever, but I think our friendship, and I think I can speak for both of us, our friendship pushed both of us to stay here," Filson said. "When I wasn't playing, Cate was always there to cheer me on. When she was playing, I would always cheer her on."
"I think our friendship is definitely one of the main constants we've had all four years," Hardin said. "Through the challenges, hardships and everything, we've been able to lean on each other."
Through their friendship, their families have also gotten really close. And every morning, Hardin and Filson have breakfast together: avocado toast with two eggs on top and a cup of coffee. One of them starts cooking it while the other gets ready for class, and then they switch places.
"We've got our routine figured out," Filson said.
As they prepare to wrap up their college careers, Hardin hopes to continue playing as a professional, while Filson is ready to hang up her cleats after this season.
"I can't wait to cheer her on," Filson said.
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Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files.
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Defender
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