ARLINGTON, Texas (November 2, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's soccer team claimed two United Athletic Conference weekly awards Monday. Senior captain Charlotte Sobotka earned the UAC Player of the Week award, while Gracie Tyrrell was named the UAC Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced.
 
Sobotka, a senior forward, claimed her second UAC Player of the Week award this season. The captain earned the first after her heroics against Southeast Missouri on Sunday, August 31. During that game, she had the game-winning goal to complete an unbeaten August for the soccer program.

The Troy, Mich. native delivered a standout performance in North Alabama's regular season finale, recording four points on one goal and two assists in a 3-0 victory over West Georgia this past Sunday.

She assisted Catherine Schneiderhahn's opening goal in the 45th minute before setting up Carolyn Federlee's second-half goal to extend the Lions' advantage. Sobotka then capped the performance with a goal of her own in the 76th minute, contributing to all three scores in the Senior Day victory.
In just 661 minutes through the regular season, she tied for the second most goals (3) and assists (4) on the season while tying for the most points (10).
 
Tyrrell, the senior left back, was named the Defensive Player of the Week for the first time during her four-year career at North Alabama.
The Dacula, Ga. native anchored North Alabama's backline during a two-match week that helped the Lions secure the second-place finish in the United Athletic Conference Blue Division.

The defender played all 90 minutes in a scoreless draw against Austin Peay on Oct. 29 before logging 82 minutes in Sunday's 3-0 shutout victory over West Georgia. Across the two matches, Tyrrell helped limit opponents to just six shots on goal, contributing to a defensive effort that surrendered no goals in 180 minutes of action.
Sobotka and Tyrrell's leadership led the Lions to three straight shutouts to end the season with an offensive exclamation point to close out the regular season on senior day against West Georgia.

"Charlotte and Gracie have been important for our success this season," said head coach Chris Walker. "Both are deeply deserving of these awards, and it is a testament to how hard they work on the pitch. I am so excited for Charlotte to win her second this season, as it demonstrates how well she impacts our offense and her leadership as a captain. Gracie was a big piece to our backline this week and the whole season. For her to get her first career award after three straight shutouts is a great explanation of what she means to our defense. She helped us clinch the second seed for the tournament which is why I think she is deserving of this weekly award."
 
Tyrrell is the fifth different Lion to win a UAC Weekly Award this season and the fifth to collect her first career weekly conference award, as well. She joins forward Anna Fugarino, defender Avery Smith, goalkeeper Emily Dorfman and Sobotka as first time career winners.
 
Sobotka is the first Lion this season to win two conference weekly awards. Her second award is the first time a Lion has won two conference player of the week awards in the same season during Division I history.
 
Only 2022's Izzi Gurney-Harper, 2022's Payton Yates and 2023's Adriana Wright won two or more conference weekly awards in the same season. Gurney-Harper was named ASUN Defensive Player of the Week while Yates and Wright were ASUN Goalkeeper of the Week.
 
These are the 21st and 22nd weekly award since the Division I transition under Chris Walker. This season now owns the most conference weekly awards in a single year through the Division I era with seven total between six different players. Formerly, 2022 held the most with six awards split between Alice Bussey, Gurney-Harper and Yates.
 
The seven recipients tie the most in a single-season all-time, matching the seven in both 2014 and 2015 during the Gulf South Conference Division II days. This is the third time seven Lions have won a conference weekly award under head coach Chris Walker.
 
North Alabama has punched its ticket to the UAC postseason where it will square off against Central Arkansas on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. in Conway, Ark. At the Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex.
 
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