MARTIN, Tenn. (August 21, 2025) – The University of North Alabama soccer team went a full 90 minutes with UT Martin and ended in a 0-0 tie on Thursday night in Martin, Tenn. This is the first time that the Lions have posted consecutive shutouts since the 2023 ASUN postseason tournament. 

UT Martin (0-0-2) recorded 12 shots with four of those on goal, all saved by goalkeeper Madison Vukas which moves her tally to 19 saves for the year.  

Vukas and the Lion defense have still not allowed a goal in free play this season. The lone goal came from an ETSU corner kick in the season opener. The graduate keeper now has logged 250:58 consecutive shutout minutes.  

North Alabama (0-1-2) did not have a single tie last season and adds a second draw in the first three games. The Lions put up 12 shots for the night, the most so far in the young season, which displays the offensive aggression quickly being found.  

UNA totaled six shots on goal, tripling the recent high of two set against Jacksonville State. The team added three more corners during the nightcap. 

Defender Gracie Tyrrell led the way with two shots on goal. Forwards Alice Bussey, Alana Owens and Anna Fugarino add their own while midfielder Adelyn Speight joined in with one of her own.  

Along with that group, midfielder Avery Stojakovich and forward Lexi Vernsey added two shots and one shot, respectively. Tyrrell took the most with three total shots while Bussey and Owens each had two.  

Owens shot may have been the best opportunity for the Lion squad as she had a header opportunity off a free kick from forward Charlotte Sobotka.

However, the energy was in the air for North Alabama. The final 20 minutes had a sense of urgency in the air that put pressure on the Skyhawk defense. A corner kick and a third of their shots came in that span while UT Martin had to continually push the ball out of bounds to try and slow the Lions down.  

A UT Martin handball placed a free kick in North Alabama's lap. A pass down inside to Bussey and Owens could not create the shot opportunity as the final minutes ticked off.  

The starting lineup stayed the same heading into the third game of the season. Of that starting 11, only three return from the full-time starting lineup last season; one freshman and four transfers are amongst that group of starters this season.  

As games have been played, offensive prowess has grown while the defense has pitched back-to-back shutouts. 

Twenty players saw action tonight with Fugarino receiving the most out of the reserves with 35. Vernsey added 28 while Langley Wallace collected 20.  

Emerson Nieroda, Giada Aldini, Meg Welsh, Mya Barr and Maddie Reynolds play in back-to-back games. Parker Martin notches 17 minutes in her second game played on the season.  

Five Lions played all 90 minutes which included Vukas, Speight, Tyrrell, Molly Parham and Lilly Ford. Stojakovich nearly did the same with 86 minutes. 

North Alabama gets their second home game of the season at the Cox Creek Sports Complex against Troy on Thursday, August 28 at 7 p.m. 

The Lions have two ties and a win over the Trojans with the win coming in 2018 — the first year of Division I. 
  
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