FLORENCE, Ala. (September 10, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's soccer team held a 1-1 draw against Chattanooga in the final game at the Cox Creek Sports Complex on Thursday in Florence, Ala. The next home game will be held in Bank Independent Stadium on Oct. 4.
North Alabama (3-1-3) earned the first tie of the all-time series against Chattanooga, previously owning an 0-7 record against the Mocs heading into the Thursday night matchup. Junior forward Anna Fugarino scored in 33 seconds to beat out teammate Parker Martin (53 seconds against Union) for the fastest goal in the program's Division I history.
Senior captain Charlotte Sobotka, who earned her first start of the season, scored a second goal off a right corner kick that bent in over the Mocs keeper in the 15th minute. However, it was ruled dead after a foul on a Lion that impacted the keeper's opportunity; that goal would have been the game winner, had it counted.
Chattanooga (4-1-3) responded in the 12th minute from a free kick from Quinn Johnson. The Mocs had scored two or more goals in four straight games before that streak was broken tonight in Florence; UTC beat two United Athletic Conference teams in that span, Austin Peay and Eastern Kentucky.
The Lion defense was nothing short of terrific tonight, as UTC had 15 shots with only seven on target. A combination of Avery Smith, Lilly Ford, Adelyn Speight, Gracie Tyrrell and Langley Wallace had multiple high-stake blocks inside the 18', slide tackles to disrupt scoring opportunities and defended shots pushed off target.
In a five-minute timelapse during the second period, the Lion defense blocked three Mocs shots which were all within the box. Goalkeeper Emily Dorfman continued a strong showing last game with five saves — one of which occurred in a pinball rotation that she took off her chest before being cleared by her backline.
North Alabama had eight shots with three on target to go alongside three corner kicks. Fugarino earned her third goal of the season, which allowed her to claim the top goal scorer on the team; Sobotka and Haddie Patterson each earned an assist.
This was the eighth meeting all-time between the two programs and the first tie for the series. Fugarino's goal was the third all-time for the Lions against the Mocs.
Tonight marked the final game at the Cox Creek Sports Complex for the soccer program. For the last two and half years, the team has spent time at the Florence Sportsplex and Cox Creek while awaiting the completion of Bank Independent Stadium.
The new on-campus stadium opens on Saturday, Sept. 19, and the soccer team gets its first match against conference foe Eastern Kentucky on Sunday, Oct. 4.
Nineteen Lions found playing time in this one as five players competed full time in Speight, Tyrrell, Dorfman and Lilly Ford. Fugarino, Sobotka and Patterson earned their first starts of the season in the home matchup.
North Alabama receives two weeks of rest before starting conference play in Carrollton, Ga. against West Georgia at University Soccer Field on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 5 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
