CONWAY, Ark. (November 11, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's soccer team fell in the United Athletic Conference Championship Semifinal Round against No. 1 Abilene Christian 2-0 on Wednesday night in Conway, Ark.
North Alabama (7-5-7, 4-3-3 UAC) advanced to the semifinal game after an electric win over Central Arkansas after a penalty kick shootout, 4-1. The Lions finished the Wednesday night game with 12 shots and four on frame.
Abilene Christian (9-2-8, 5-0-5 UAC) remains unbeaten against conference opponents this season. The Wildcats were led by UAC Freshman of the Year Addison Briscoe and Jenna Verplancke who each had a goal. Briscoe had two of the three shots on goal for ACU.
Four different Lions had a shot on goal in Meg Welsh, Lilly Ford, Avery Smith and Charlotte Sobotka. North Alabama had five shots with zero on goal through the first 45 minutes of play. However, the Lions returned with seven shots and four on target in the second half of play.
North Alabama's defense limited the Wildcats to only 10 shots tonight and three on frame. In the second half, UNA only allowed four total shots with one on target.
This season was the first time the Lions advanced past the opening round since the 2023 season when UNA made the ASUN Conference Championship Final against FGCU. This also was the fifth time through the Division I era North Alabama has made the postseason tournament and third advancing past the first round.
UNA closes the season at 7-5-7 with a 4-3-3 conference record. This is the fourth season for UNA with seven or more wins at the Division I level. Head coach Chris Walker became the all-time winningest coach in school history with the team's 3-0 win over West Georgia on Senior Day to close the regular season.
North Alabama scored 26 goals this season, the second-most in a season behind the inaugural year of Division I in 2018 with 33. The Lions had an exciting start to the season with 13 goals in the first four games of the year.
UNA had three players named to UAC conference teams including All-UAC First Team selection Adelyn Speight, All-UAC Second Team selection Gizelle El Assal and UAC All-Freshman Team Catherine Schneiderhahn.
Speight, a senior captain, was named the UAC Defensive Player of the Year by a vote of the league's head coaches to conclude the 2026 season. In a rare occurrence, Speight was voted the Preseason and Postseason UAC Defensive Player of the Year.
North Alabama finished second in shots on goal per game (7.37), second in assists (28), third in goals allowed (21) and third in corners (97) in the UAC for the 2026 season. UNA had the most shots on goal through conference play of any UAC member with 89.
The Lions also had seven conference weekly award winners this season which ties the most in a season all-time. The 2026 season tied the 2014 and 2015 seasons for the most, all which came under Walker. Sobotka (2x), Smith, Speight, Anna Fuagrino, Gracie Tyrrell and Emily Dorfman all were recipients this season.
North Alabama finished the season as the second seed in the UAC Blue Division, earning the team's first berth in the inaugural UAC Postseason Tournament.
Nineteen Lions found playing time on Wednesday night with Dorfman, Speight, Smith and Lilly Ford playing full-time. Anna Fugarino led the reserves with 56 minutes as Cara Pitzer (54) and Sobotka (51) were close behind.
UNA will return for its first full season inside Bank Independent Stadium in 2027.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
