JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (August 11, 2026) – The University of North Alabama soccer team travels to face ETSU on Wednesday at 5 p.m. for the first game of the 2026 season.
Live stats will be available at RoarLions.com via StatBroadcast. The game will be broadcast and streamed via ESPN+.
MATCHUP
North Alabama at East Tennessee State
Wednesday, August 12
5 p.m.
Johnson City, Tenn. – Summers-Taylor Stadium
437 Go Bucs Tr., Johnson City, TN 37604
Live Stats |
ESPN+
NOTES
SERIES HISTORY: This is only the second meeting between the Lions and the Bucs in program history. The first came last season when the Lions fell 1-0 in a battle in Florence. The lone goal came from midfielder Grace Eatz's corner, which connected with a header from forward Reagan Fitzgerald in the 19th minute. Late in the battle, the Bucs went down a player after a straight red card was issued for a tackle from defender McKlain Jones. This year, the Lions look for their first win both on the road and against the Bucs to set the tone for the 2026 season.
SCOUTING THE BUCS: ETSU ranks similar to the Lions in the Southern Conference preseason polls, as both teams earned a second-place ranking. Unlike the Lions, the Bucs share their second-place ranking in the SoCon with Furman, as Samford tops the list. Three Bucs hold spots on the SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team, including seniors forward Reagan Fitzgerald and defender Ella Parker and junior midfielder Georgia Shields. After tallying the single goal against the Lions last season, Fitzgerald went on to lead ETSU in goals (9) and assists (5), which resulted in her First Team All-SoCon honors to conclude the 2025 season. Shields and Parker were two of three Bucs that started in all 19 games last season, and both were awarded Second Team All-SoCon.
ABOUT LAST SEASON: UNA was defensively dominant last season between the backline and ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year
Madison Vukas. The Lions went 8-5-6 last season and posted nine clean sheets en route to an ASUN Postseason Tournament appearance. Vukas was a catalyst as she set the Division I era saves record with 111 and the goals against average record at .624. North Alabama faced off against No. 2 Jacksonville in the ASUN postseason tournament, holding the fifth-best scoring offense in the nation to a scoreless tie through two overtime periods. UNA eventually fell in penalty kicks 4-3 in the opening round of the tournament.
ALL-UAC: The Lions earned a second-place ranking in the newly-formed United Athletic Conference, while three Lions earned preseason honors. Senior captain and defender
Adelyn Speight, junior defender
Avery Smith and sophomore
Avery Stojakovich were selected to the UAC Preseason Team. All three were impactful due to their defensive efforts that led to the fewest goals in a season (12) in program history. The three selections were the most in a single preseason during the Division I era.
SPEIGHT WALL OF FLORENCE: Senior center back
Adelyn Speight was named the Preseason UAC Defensive Player of the Year ahead of the 2026 season. This comes off the heels of Speight's successful junior season as the anchor of the best backline in the ASUN. She earned Second-Team All-ASUN honors, becoming the first since
Hannah Guthrie in 2023. Speight becomes the first Lion to receive a preseason conference player of the year selection
during North Alabama's Division I history.
NEXT GAME: After battling the Bucs, the Lions continue their road trip east to face UNC Asheville at Greenwood Soccer Field in Asheville, N.C. The Bulldogs host the Lions on Saturday, August 15 at 1 p.m. for their first face-off in program history.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
