FLORENCE, Ala. (October 10, 2024) – The University of North Alabama soccer team dropped its final match at the Florence Sportsplex this regular season, as the Lions fell to Jacksonville in Atlantic Sun Conference action Thursday, 2-0. 
 
In the previous two games, the Lions set their season-high in shots with 17 against Bellarmine and Eastern Kentucky. Tonight, UNA had a 10 shot first half and coupled it with a nine shot second half to create a new season-high of 19.
 
Jacksonville (3-8-2, 2-4-1 ASUN) started fast with a couple shots before the 17th minute that gave junior goalkeeper Allanah Blye two of her six saves. North Alabama (3-10, 1-6 ASUN) had three shots as well, two coming from junior captain midfielder Molly Parham and senior forward Haley Patterson. Patterson comfortably leads the team in shots this season with 24.
 
As the shots added up fast, Jacksonville was the first to strike off of a redshirt-senior forward Logan Gonzales goal that was assisted by sophomore defender Millie Urquhart. Gonzales would add another goal in the 55th minute from a penalty kick due to a handball from a UNA defender. 
 
North Alabama had 19 shots, but only managed one shot on goal for the night while Jacksonville had eight of their 18 on goal. Despite this, the Lions had a number of opportunities to equalize but were blocked by defenders near the goal line.
 
One of the best opportunities for the Lions came in the 43rd minute after a corner kick, as the Lions fired off three consecutive tries. Senior forward Hope Lensing, freshman midfielder Anna Fugarino and freshman midfielder Emerson Nieroda put shots up from inside the box before they were deflected off of Jacksonville defenders. 
 
Nineteen players saw the field today for UNA with four seeing the full 90 minutes in sophomore midfielder Adelyn Speight, defender Gracie Tyrrell, defender Saniya Johnson and Blye. Two freshmen, defender Langley Wallace and Fugarino, led the Lions in shots for the night with three apiece. 
 
North Florida comes to the Cox Creek Sports Complex to play UNA on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. This will be the first sporting event at the new turf facility on Cox Creek Parkway, which is nestled beside the Hilda B. Anderson Softball Complex and UNA Beach Volleyball Courts. This will be one of two matches to be played at Cox Creek this season. 
  
 For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.