FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 16, 2024) – The University of North Alabama soccer team is playing its first road game since Sept. 29, as the Lions will battle Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Fla. on Thursday at 6 p.m.
The Thursday matchup will be a 2023 ASUN Championship rematch, where the Lions fell 3-2 in penalty kicks.
Fans can follow along through live stats which will be available at RoarLions.com via StatBroadcast or follow along on the ESPN+ broadcast.
MATCHUP
North Alabama vs. FGCU
Thursday, October 17
6 p.m.
Fort Myers, Fla. – Pickering Field at the FGCU Soccer Complex
10501 FGCU Blvd S Fort Myers, FL 33965
LIVE STATS |
ESPN+
NOTES
ABOUT LAST GAME: UNA dropped its final game of a four-game home stretch Sunday afternoon, as the Lions fell to North Florida, 5-0. The Lions and sophomore goalkeeper
Thordis Melsted tied their team-high for saves in their Sunday game against North Florida with nine. The six-save first half is the most in one half this season for North Alabama. Senior forward
Haley Patterson, the team's season-high shot leader, added two more to her total this season. The trio of senior forward
Hope Lensing, senior midfielder
Kellie Hovis and sophomore midfielder
Adelyn Speight were the three shots on goal.
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the sixth all-time meeting between the two teams. The Lions are 0-4-1 in this matchup with a technical tie in the championship game before penalty kicks went in FGCU's favor. The Lions tripled their goals from this series in the ASUN final last season with three. This will be the second time playing in Fort Myers in this matchup; three have come in Florence, Ala. and one came in Nashville, Tenn.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES: The Eagles host North Alabama after a two-game road trip where they won against Austin Peay 3-1 and tied with Lipscomb 2-2. FGCU boasts a 7-5-2 record on the season with a strong 6-1-1 record for 19 points in the conference which is best for second behind Central Arkansas with 20 points. The Eagles have scored 25 goals this season in ASUN play, 13 came in back-to-back games against Queens (8-0) and West Georgia (5-0). In eight games, FGCU has conceded just six goals to conference opponents.
ASUN CHAMPIONSHIP: The second ASUN title game appearance in North Alabama's history saw a lightning lead take place where the Lions scored three first half goals. Then seniors
Izzi Gurney-Harper,
Julia Murdoch and now senior
Kellie Hovis all netted a goal. In the second half, FGCU's Erika Zschuppe scored a hat trick to lead to the first overtime session. After two scoreless 10-minute overtime periods, the match went to penalty kicks where FGCU outlasted the Lions, 3-2.
RATTA PATT-PATT: Senior forward
Haley Patterson has kicked it into second gear as conference play continues. On the season, she has 26 total shots with 12 shots on goal. She leads all other Lions by 11 in shots and doubles the next closest teammate in SOG. Most notably, she contributed 18 of her 26 shots in ASUN play alone. Seven of her 12 shots came against conference opponents, both are team highs for the year.
THREE LEFT: Head coach
Chris Walker is on the way to eclipsing the century mark for his career in wins. Since he has been at UNA, he has accomplished a 97-93-23 overall record in his 12 years and is three wins shy of his 100th career win. He is 14 away from tying former Lion head coach Graham Winkworth's all-time record of 111 wins.
NEXT GAME: North Alabama stays in the Sunshine State on Sunday, Oct. 20 against Stetson in DeLand, Fla. at 12 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
