2025 Season Kickoff: ETSU Women’s Soccer vs. North Alabama
Tonight marks an exciting chapter for the East Tennessee State University (ETSU) women’s soccer team as they kick off their 2025 season against the North Alabama Lions. This match will be noteworthy, not only for its significance in the season but also because it is the first-ever meeting between the two teams. The game is set to begin at 8:00 PM Eastern Time, located at the Cox Creek Sports Complex in Florence, Alabama.
Match Details
- Opponent: North Alabama
- Location: Cox Creek Sports Complex, Florence, AL
- Kickoff Time: 8:00 PM ET
- Broadcast: ESPN+ (Commentators: Benjamin Ray, Amy Butler Bailey)
- Live Stats: Available via StatBroadcast
ETSU Team Overview
Coming into the match, ETSU has been placed seventh in the Southern Conference (SoCon) preseason poll. Last season, the Bucs ended with a 4-8-4 overall record, finishing their conference play at 3-3-3. The team returns a significant portion of its offensive roster, spearheaded by senior midfielder Grace Eatz, who netted four goals last season. Moreover, redshirt junior winger Ruby Teixeira is poised to contribute, having scored three goals in 2024. Junior forward Reagan Fitzgerald, who scored five goals during her freshman year, aims to build on her career tally of seven goals.
Defensively, the Bucs boast the talents of junior Ella Parker and redshirt sophomore Molly Cason. Notably, Cason is making her return to the field after suffering a season-ending injury at last season’s opener against UAB.
North Alabama Team Overview
The North Alabama Lions, who finished 2024 with a challenging record of 3-14, were ranked ninth in the ASUN preseason poll. The team faced difficulties last year, including injuries leading to 14 different lineups over the season. Notably, they have brought in 18 new players for this season. Among these additions is Alice Bussey, who is making a comeback for her sixth year after missing all of the previous season due to injury. Bussey previously made an impact on the field with seven goals in 22 games in 2023 and earned distinctions such as first team All-ASUN and second team All-American.
Additional Information
For ongoing updates and more coverage on the ETSU women’s soccer program, fans can visit the official team website at ETSUBucs.com.
