FLORENCE, Ala. (September 7, 2024) – The University of North Alabama soccer team plays its second home game of the season Sunday, September 8 at 1 p.m. against Belmont at the Florence Sportsplex in Florence, Ala.
This will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs where UNA is 1-3. This is the third consecutive season that the two programs have competed with the home team winning each of the last two.
Fans can follow along through live stats which will be available at RoarLions.com via StatBroadcast or watch the broadcast on ESPN+ with the 'Voice of the Lions' Benjamin Ray and Amy Butler Bailey on the call.
MATCHUP
North Alabama vs. Belmont
Sunday, September 8
1 p.m.
Florence, Ala. – Florence Sportsplex
1 Sportsplex Drive Florence, AL 35633
LIVE STATS |ESPN+| GAME NOTES
NOTES
SERIES HISTORY: The University of North Alabama soccer team has met the Belmont Bruins team four times before; the earliest meeting was in 1997 when the UNA soccer program began. The Lions are 1-3 in the series with the win coming in Florence in 2022 by a score of 2-0. The teams met back-to-back in 1997-1998 and 2022-2023.
ABOUT LAST GAME: The Lions played their last game of a three-game road trip against Southern Illinois, Thursday Sept. 5 by a score of 3-1 in SIU's favor. The Salukis scored in the second minute to open the game. North Alabama turned around and answered right away to tie the game on a Haley Patterson goal with an assist from Adelyn Speight. SIU added another goal in the 33rd minute of the first period before adding their final in the 52nd. The Lions led in shots and corner kicks for the night with eight and five, respectively. Goalkeeper Allanah Blye added in two more saves for the match.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS: Belmont comes to Florence dropping five of their last six games. Three games have seen three-plus goal scores from the Bruins' opponents. Four of six of their matches have been at E.S. Rose Park in Nashville with the only two being on the road against MTSU and Marshall; the Bruins beat MTSU 2-1. Their previous two games against Marshall and Coastal Carolina found the same fate as both were a 1-0 loss. Belmont stands at the ninth spot in the Missouri Valley Conference in overall record.
BACK HOME: This is North Alabama's second home match of the season and the final home match in non-conference play. As non-conference play comes to a close, the Lions will play seven total games and five of them away from Florence. After the Sunday match against Belmont, 11 days will pass before another home game against the University of West Georgia which kick starts Atlantic Sun Conference play.
CONFERENCE COMPANIONS: The Lions play back-to-back Missouri Valley conference opponents in Southern Illinois and Belmont. The Lions are 3-4-1 against the MVC all-time dating back to 1997.
WE'VE SEEN YOU BEFORE: This will be the third straight season that the Lions square off against the Bruins. This is the second game at home for UNA during the three years. The Lions are 1-1 in the two years with the win coming in Florence, 2-0. Alice Bussey scored the two goals against Belmont in 2022 for a brace.
FOUR MORE: Walker is on the way to eclipsing the century mark for his career in wins. Since he has been at UNA, he has accomplished a 96-85-23 overall record in his 12 years and is four wins shy of his 100th career win. He is 15 away from tying former Lion's head coach Graham Winkworth's all-time record of 111 wins.
NEXT GAME: Following the home stand against Belmont, the Lions get back on the road against Alabama State University on Friday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. in Montgomery, Ala. North Alabama is 1-2 on the road to start the season against tough opponents, including No. 24 ranked Alabama.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
