FLORENCE, Ala. (November 1, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's soccer team earned its first win at Bank Independent Stadium over conference foe West Georgia 3-0 to close the regular season on Sunday afternoon.
Head coach Chris Walker earned his 112th win at North Alabama, surpassing Graham Winkworth for most wins all-time by a head coach through the program's 30-year history.
North Alabama (7-4-6, 4-3-3 UAC) had 20 shots on goal against the Wolves with Catherine Schniederhahn, Carolyn Federlee and Charlotte Sobotka each claiming a goal in the monumental win.
This win solidified the team's second-place finish in the Blue Division, which sets up the matchup against Central Arkansas in Conway for the first round on Nov. 8.
West Georgia (0-14-3, 0-9-1 UAC) was held to its 10th shutout of the season with only five shots to show for the game. This was the eighth game the Wolves allowed three or more goals to their opponents.
The Lions fall one shot shy of tying the season-high mark set against Union (29) in August. The team set the shots on goal mark with the 20 on frame for a whopping 71 percent accuracy.
UNA battled through wet, rainy conditions to seal the Senior Sunday victory. Prior to Schniederhahn's goal, Parker Martin believed to have netted the first before a review wiped away the first half goal due to a handball.
One of the senior's honored today in captain Sobotka had a corner kick served into Emma Armstrong who headed it to Schniederhahn for the first goal of the game in the closing seconds of the first half.
Sobotka delivered another up to Anna Fugarino who passed it into Carolyn Federlee who earned a one-on-one with the Wolves keeper. The freshman forward nudged it by to add to the lead, 2-0.
Finally, Sobotka netted her own goal off a corner kick which curved into the left side of the net for a 75th minute goal and her third this season. Sobotka's two assist, one goal day led to her tallying four points which ties for a Lion game-high.
Sobotka (3), Parker Martin (3) and Schniederhahn (2) had all shots on frame this afternoon, while Gizelle El Assal led the team with six shots and four on target.
Alongside an offensive masterclass, UNA had a dominant defensive day. UWG managed just five shots as the backline allowed only two on frame. Starting keeper Emily Dorfman wiped away both, one where she leapt to the top of the crossbar to clear it out of play.
The Lions enjoyed a Senior Day celebration where the team honored five seniors in goalkeeper Maddox Dolly, midfielder Emma Armstrong, midfielder Maddie Reynolds, forward Charlotte Sobotka and midfielder Abby Thornton.
Armstrong, a midfield maestro, earned time on the pitch for the first time since 2024 due to injuries while Thornton also saw playing time for the first time since 2024.
Walker won his historic game during his 14th season at North Alabama. He became only the second coach to surpass 100 wins while at North Alabama in 2025 after beating Alabama State 3-0 at home.
Walker took over in 2013 after Winkworth spent 10 seasons at the helm of North Alabama women's soccer. Since taking over, Walker has enjoyed three NCAA South Regional appearances, a Gulf South Conference Championship, a GSC Tournament Championship, four Atlantic Sun tournament appearances and two ASUN championship final appearances.
After the win over West Georgia today, the Lions end with seven wins for the season with four in conference play. UNA, picked second in the preseason polls for the UAC, punched their ticket for the first UAC Postseason Tournament in school history.
The UAC tournament is all solidified with EKU, North Alabama and Austin Peay from the Blue Division; Tarleton State, Abilene Christian and Central Arkansas claimed the three spots in the Red Division.
Twenty-seven Lions found playing time on Sunday afternoon, a season high for the coaching staff. This is the first time this season that the Lions did not have a single player record full-time. Several players recorded their first minutes of the season in Thornton, Armstrong, Kayleigh Hilton and Maggie Brzica. Other notable names include defender Haylee Martin, defender Casey Knerr, midfielder Haddie Patterson, goalkeeper Cecilia Smith and midfielder Maddie Allen who received minutes today. Sobotka and Cara Pitzer shared a tie for the most reserve minutes at 50 with Lilly Ford playing the most starter minutes at 83.
North Alabama closed out the final three games of the season unbeaten in preparation for the United Athletic Conference Postseason Tournament against Central Arkansas which begins on Sunday, Nov. 8 in Conway, Ark. at the Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
