FLORENCE, Ala. (August 18, 2026) – The University of North Alabama soccer team will host the Union University Bulldogs on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Cox Creek Sports Complex. This will be the first meeting between the two since the start of the Lions' Division I era.
Live stats will be available at RoarLions.com via StatBroadcast. The game will be broadcast and streamed via ESPN+ with 'Voice of the Lions'
Benjamin Ray on the call alongside his partner, Amy Butler Bailey.
Gyvan Hammons will command the sideline.
MATCHUP
North Alabama vs. Union University
Wednesday, August 19
7 p.m.
Florence, Ala. – Cox Creek Sports Complex
2500 Chisholm Rd., Florence, AL 35630
LIVE STATS |
ESPN+|
TICKET
NOTES
ABOUT LAST GAME: North Alabama soccer earned a 3-3 draw at UNC Asheville on Saturday. Freshman midfielder
Maya Kelsch recorded her first collegiate goal just in the first two minutes of the match. Sophomore
Meg Welsh and senior captain
Adelyn Speight also tallied a goal each for the Lions in the second half. Seniors led the assist sheet as midfielder
Maddie Reynolds earned one assist and defender
Gracie Tyrrell notched two. UNC Asheville's midfielder Lili Adams scored two goals, one in each half, and Manuela Schreier scored a late equalizer for the Bulldogs in the last minute of the match. Five freshmen Lions made their collegiate debuts in starters Kelsch and
Carolyn Federle, along with reserves
Haddie Patterson, Catherine Schniederhahn and
Cara Pitzer.
SERIES HISTORY: North Alabama and Union have met nine times in program history, dating back to 2005. The two met once in 2005 and 2006 before Union officially joined the Gulf South Conference in 2012. The pair played two times in 2012 and once each of the next five seasons before the Lions transitioned to Division I after the 2017 season. From 2005-2017, the Lions went 7-1-1 with the only loss coming 1-0 in Jackson, Tenn. On three separate occasions, the Lions won by five or more goals in 2005, 2006 and 2014. Wednesday night's game will be the first meeting between the two since the Lions' last season as a Division II program in 2017.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: Union University received a ninth-place ranking in the 2026 Gulf South Conference preseason poll, preceding three other teams. Senior forward Rebekah Jackson was the only Bulldog to earn a spot on the 2026 GSC Preseason Team. Three freshmen Bulldogs were listed on the 2026 GSC Newcomers to Watch poll, including midfielders Isla Bute and Brinley Linnenbringer alongside New Zealand forward Putri Ardana. Last season, the Bulldogs finished tenth out of 13 programs in the GSC with an overall record of 4-7-4. The matchup with the Lions will be the Bulldogs' first game of the 2026 season and will serve as an exhibition for their team.
FASTEST IN DIVISION I: In the first two minutes of the game,
Maya Kelsch's first collegiate goal shot off the crossbar and bounced into the goal behind the leaping Bulldog keeper to make it a quick 1-0. The freshman midfielder's goal — officially recorded at 1:59 — is the fastest goal to start a game in the program's Division I history. This goal is also the fastest goal to start a season in program history. In 2010, UNA Hall of Famer Chloe Roberts scored a goal in the first 11 seconds of the game — however, this goal came in the second game of the 2010 season against Nova Southeastern.
FOURTH TIME IN THE WALKER ERA: The Lions scored three goals on Saturday against UNC Asheville. This was the fourth time during the
Chris Walker era where the Lions began the season with three or more goals in the opening game, including the first time since 2020 when they defeated Western Kentucky 4-1.
NEXT GAME: The Lions stay in town to host the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech on Sunday, August 23 at 6 p.m. at the Cox Creek Sports Complex.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit
www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
