CARROLLTON, Ga. (September 24, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's soccer team got back in the win column Thursday night with a 1-0 win over West Georgia at the University Soccer Stadium in Carrollton, Ga.
North Alabama (4-1-3, 1-0-0 UAC) opened conference play with a shutout win for the fourth consecutive season. In 2023, the Lions beat then-Atlantic Sun Conference opponent Kennesaw State 2-0; in 2024 it was West Georgia 3-0 and then last season Central Arkansas 1-0.
West Georgia (0-6-2, 0-1-0 UAC) was held to just three shots on goal for the entirety of the night. The North Alabama defense allowed just one shot on target through the first 45 minutes played.
UNA had eight corners in the first half alone tonight with six of their shots on goal. The Lions had 19 total shots for the game with 10 different Lions recording at least one shot.
Forward Meg Welsh (five), midfielder Gizelle El Assal (four), forward Anna Fugarino (two) and forward Parker Martin (two) each had multiple shots for the game. Welsh had four on target, while Fugarino and El Assal each had two.
Welsh earned her third goal of the season to tie atop the team's lead with the junior Fugarino; the sophomore matched her 2025 season total with her goal tonight. Fugarino and captain Adelyn Speight each added an assist to the goal.
The Atlanta native goalkeeper, Emily Dorfman, earned her third shutout of the season with three saves. The UWG offense had eight shots in total tonight as the defense helped clear the other five.
This is Chris Walker's 109th win in his career as the North Alabama head coach. He now sits three wins away from the most all-time wins by a head coach in North Alabama program history; currently Graham Winkworth owns the title with 111.
This was the 12th win against West Georgia since 2004 and the second during Division I history. The Lions last beat West Georgia in Carrollton in 2017 by a score of 2-1. UWG has not scored a goal on North Alabama since 2017.
Tonight, Soccer became the first UNA program to play and win a game against a conference opponent since all sports moved to the newly-formed United Athletic Conference in July 2026.
Nineteen Lions found playing time in this one as five players competed full time in Speight, Dorfman, Avery Smith, Gracie Tyrrell and Lilly Ford. Emerson Nieroda earned her first start of the year while Martin and Alana Owens found their way back into the starting lineup.
After the two weeks of rest, the Lions earned a win before the team heads to Clarksville, Tenn. to play Austin Peay on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m.
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