FLORENCE, Ala. (October 15, 2025) – The University of North Alabama soccer team will host Eastern Kentucky on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. This is one of the final two home games of the season.
 
Live stats will be available at RoarLions.com via StatBroadcast. The game will be broadcast and streamed on ESPN+ with "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray and Amy Butler Bailey calling the action.
 
MATCHUP
North Alabama vs. Eastern Kentucky
Thursday, Oct. 16
7 p.m.
Florence, Ala. – Cox Creek Sports Complex
2500 Chisholm Rd., Florence, AL  35630
 
LIVE STATS | ESPN+ | TICKETS
 
 
NOTES
 
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the sixth all-time meeting between the two programs dating back to 2021. The Lions are 0-2-3 against this ASUN foe — all three draws have been scoreless. EKU visited Florence last season where the Colonels took home the 4-1 victory over a depleted Lion squad. UNA played to a scoreless draw against Eastern Kentucky earlier this year, marking UNA's third tie of the season. North Alabama recorded its seventh clean sheet of the year, as goalkeeper Madison Vukas and the Lions' defense held the Colonels — the No. 42 team in the Rating Percentage Index (RPI) and highest-ranked in the ASUN — without a goal. North Alabama became the third team this season to hold the Colonels scoreless. The other two opponents to do so were ASUN opponent Lipscomb and nationally-ranked No. 2 Tennessee. The Lions held EKU to their second-lowest shots on goal total at the time with three.

SCOUTING THE COLONELS: Eastern Kentucky comes to Florence as the second-best team in the ASUN's Gold Division, one spot ahead of North Alabama. The Colonels boast a 9-2-3 overall record with a 4-1-1 conference record; their loss came against Lipscomb and a tie with North Alabama. EKU has played Bellarmine in back-to-back games, both being wins over the Knights 5-1 and 2-1 respectively – these were the only two conference games with multiple goals scored. Ella Grode is the clubhouse leader in shots (31), points (14) and goals (6).

ABOUT LAST GAME: UNA earned its seventh win of the season Sunday afternoon, defeating Austin Peay 2-1 on the road in Clarksville, Tenn. Sophomore midfielder Gizelle El Assal scored in her second straight game, converting a penalty kick in the 40th minute to take the lead,1-0. Junior forward Alana Owens, a former Governor, followed with a goal in the 57th minute — eventually the game winner. North Alabama had 14 shots for the afternoon slate with six on target; six of those shots came from Owens with four on goal. This is the junior's career high in the categories with the Lions. Her recent high was three shots and two on goal against SEMO. Austin Peay made a late push with an 86th minute goal but could not secure an equalizer at home. 
 
FIRST TIME FEELING: The Lipscomb Bisons entered Thursday night's matchup with North Alabama riding a five-game win streak against divisional opponents. LU had outscored conference foes 14-2 entering the game. The Lions notched their second goal on Lipscomb this season—the first team to score multiple goals against them—and ended the conference win streak with a 1-1 draw. This is the first tie in the series history between the two programs.
 
FIRST TIME FEELING: The Lions have earned marquee wins this season against some conference opponents. Prior to this season, North Alabama had never beaten Central Arkansas or Austin Peay in school history. This season, the Lions opened conference play with a shutout win over the Bears, 1-0. UNA has met APSU twice this season and won both games by a score of 2-1. Now, the Lions are looking for their first series win against Eastern Kentucky who they tied in a scoreless draw in Richmond, Ky. on Sept. 28.
 
COLLEGIATE NETTING: On Thursday evening, Gizelle El Assal earned her first career collegiate goal against the Lipscomb Bisons. The sophomore midfielder joined two other Lions in earning their first career goal scored. El Assal joined defender Gracie Tyrrell and freshman forward Meg Welsh. El Assal made a nifty move past a slew of Bisons to net her first. Tyrrell's goal soared past two Govs for her first and the game winner over Austin Peay. Welsh had a header that was rebounded that she put back in against Alabama State. There have been nine unique goal scorers this season for the Lions. 
 
TO CONFERENCE PLAY!: The ASUN moved to two divisions ahead of the 2025 spring season, meaning teams will only play within the division during the regular season. During post season, each division matches up with the other in the first round, including top seeds against four seeds and two seeds against three seeds. All soccer postseason games will be hosted on campus sites by the top two teams in each division.
 
GOLD AND GRAPHITE: The ASUN Gold Division is where North Alabama will play this season, joining Central Arkansas, Austin Peay, Bellarmine, EKU and Lipscomb. The Graphite Division includes FGCU, Jacksonville, Stetson, North Florida, West Georgia and Queens.
                                                                  
NEXT GAME: Following the match against Eastern Kentucky, UNA hosts Bellarmine for its home finale on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. at the Cox Creek Sports Complex. This will be Senior Day for the Lions as seven players will be honored prior to the game.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.