UNA soccer showed-off pre-conference work on an outstanding Atlantic Sun Conference starting match, beating West Georgia Wolves by 3-0.
The Lions played at the Bill Jones Athletic Complex on Sep. 19, and they counted on the UNA and local community for loud, enthusiastic cheering. UNA now stands at 3-4.
Coming from two losses against Belmont and Southern Illinois, and two canceled matches that blocked the Lions from playing for 11 days, the roar ressurged on that Thursday night.
On Sep. 18, Chris Walker, most tenured head coach the program has ever had,
commented on the preparation and expectations for the kickoff.
He said pre-season and non-conference served to build team building and introduce the six freshmen and six transfers to the “great groups of returners we got.”
The head coach joked recruiting the “best possible” student-athletes is what makes his and the other coaches’ jobs easier, while also generating the main reason for the team’s success and upward trends.
“Team culture is fantastic. They all get along very well, and they’ll work hard for each other,” said Walker.
Regarding the opponent, expectations for the match were rather ambiguous because it would be the Wolves’ first ever ASUN match in any sport, coming from a recent NCAA Division I athletics upgrade in July of this year.
To “pressure them” was the goal, according to the coach. The attack-minded team scored their first goal within the first fifteen minutes of the ball rolling.
Despite West Georgia’s efforts to get the ball from the Lions, the agility and speed of freshman midfielder Anna Fugarino and junior forward Lexi Vernsey opened the scoreboard with the No. 10’s kick.
Recalling head coach Walker’s words, “We have very quick athletes with a high level of fitness.”
UNA’s talent in generating corner kicks was present in the first period, totalizing two, three for the match.
The team shone in every half of the field. From the very start, senior defender Saniya Johnson showed the Wolves where they did not belong: the box. In many instances, the player was responsible for clearing face-to-face goal threats.
The first period was marked by two yellow cards for the Wolves and one for Lion Emerson Nieroda, which received a booing wave from the audience.
The second period added two extra goals to the Lions, turning the match the team’s season-high in scoring.
The midfielder who managed an assist in the first period went in search of her own score contribution in the second. Fugarino attempted three shots, but the first two were unfruitful. Assisted by Adelyn Speight, the third scored, as the Wolves were unprepared for the Lion strength.
Coach Walker said, “We are hardworking and never give up.” The statement remained true for the rest of the game.
With the game at 2-0, West Virginia substituted three of its players with the hope the game would suffer a turnover. Still, UNA was eager to break a season record.
UWG’s only shot on goal was saved by junior goalie Allanah Blye.
The mistake soccer enthusiasts find the utmost worrying happened with less than 15 minutes to go. With the Wolves committing a foul inside the box area, the crowd cheered euphorically knowing what was to come.
Named 2023 third-team All-ASUN selection and All-Freshman team midfielder Giana Aldini prepared for the penalty kick with intense crowd participation and motivation.
Aldini’s goal closed the score board and showed the crowd, opponents and ESPN+ audience what the Lions came for.
As coach Walker said, “ASUN is where the season really gets going.”
UNA led the match in shots 13-5 and shots on goal 6-1. Corner kicks were 3-3 and UWG led in saves 3-1.
Fugarino led the match with four shots, two shots on goal, one assist and one goal. The player also received a yellow card at the end of the second period.
The 2024 ASUN journey has just started but the Lions are already aiming to be the first team at UNA to win the ASUN title.
Head coach Walker said, “We’ve been there twice, so we’ve got a little bit of experience with it. We just need to cross that finish line now”
Suniya Johnson expressed her pride after the game. “I do it for the time, you know. It was a great team effort winning 3-0, we scored three really good goals. And it is just my job to keep the ball from advancing,” said Johnson.
The team played their first ASUN road match on Sunday, Sep. 22 against Queens University Royals. Although there were significant goal attempts by the Lions, the Royals came out on top, winning 1-0.
The Lions proceed to face the Austin Peay Governors in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sep. 26 at 6 p.m.
