TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (August 21, 2024) – The University of North Alabama soccer team travels to the Alabama Soccer Complex in Tuscaloosa, Ala. to matchup against Alabama on Thursday, August 22 at 7 p.m. This will be the second meeting between the two programs historically, the last being in 2022. 
 
Live stats will be available at RoarLions.com via StatBroadcast. The game will be broadcasted and streamed via SECN+ with analyst Hayley MacDonald and play-by-play announcer Roger Hoover on the call. 
 
MATCHUP
North Alabama at Alabama
Thursday, August 22
7 p.m.
Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Alabama Soccer Complex
500 Peter Bryce Blvd., Tuscaloosa, Ala. 35401
 
LIVE STATS | SECN+ | GAME NOTES
 
NOTES
 
SERIES HISTORY: The University of North Alabama soccer team has an all-time record of 0-1 against the Crimson Tide. The prior meeting came in 2022 where the Lions traveled to Tuscaloosa for a rainy Sunday matchup on Sept. 11. The Lions fell 3-0 to a tough Crimson Tide team that advanced to the NCAA Women's College Cup semifinals. Former goalkeeper Payton Yates recorded a season-high seven saves in the game. 

SCOUTING THE CRIMSON TIDE: Alabama has completed one home exhibition game and two road regular season games before hosting North Alabama. This will be the Crimson Tide's first true home game of the season. They won one their lone exhibition matchup which came against SEC opponent LSU. The Tide lost their opening game against TCU in Fort Worth, 3-0. They stayed in Denton, Texas to compete against North Texas where they pulled a 2-1 victory. Last season, Alabama finished the season 12-5-5 overall with a 5-4-1 conference record that netted a fourth-place finish in the SEC. 


ABOUT LAST GAME: The Lions (1-1) were the early aggressors on Sunday with two corner kicks in the first five minutes, but Jacksonville State (2-0) protected the net and scored back-to-back goals in the ninth and 11th minutes en route to a 5-0 win. The 2-0 advantage later grew by three in the second half behind braces from JSU duo Melissa Kuya-Strobel and Naroa Domenech. Salome Kerguillec had three assists for the Gamecocks. For UNA, shots were recorded by sophomore Maddie Reynolds, junior Lexi Vernsey, senior Hope Lensing and fellow senior Haley Patterson. Despite the loss, UNA held a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.
 
ALICE'S WONDERLAND: Fifth year senior Alice Bussey notched honor after honor this offseason. The Atlantic Sun Conference announced the fifth-year senior to the preseason team. Bussey earned a 2024 United Soccer Coaches selection for the NCAA Division I Players to Watch list. To top it off, she was named to the Mac Hermann Trophy watch list earlier this week that honors the National Player of the Year at the end of the season. This all comes after a stellar 2023 season where she earned first team all-conference and was an Academic All-ASUN selection, while also earning national awards as a United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American and First Team All-South Region.
 
MINUTE MASTERS: Molly Parham and Gracie Tyrrell are the two lone players for the Lions that have played back-to-back 90 minutes games to begin the season. Mississippi State transfer Saniya Johnson and captain Montana Merkle have logged over 150 minutes between the first two contests, as well.  
 
CORNER SHOOTOUT: The UNA soccer team earned 135 corner kicks so last season while allowing just 44 attempts. The Lions led all ASUN schools in corner kicks, the next closest team being Lipscomb with 112. North Alabama is allowed just 2.1 corners per match while earning 6.4 per match. The Lions picked up where they left off with beating out opponents with 10 corner kicks to their nine. 
 
NEXT GAME: Following the road game against Alabama, the Lions play on the road in Murfreesboro, Tenn. against Middle Tennessee State University on Thursday, August 29 at 7 p.m.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.