Soccer: UNA defeats UAH at home

Junior midfielder Beatriz Fernandes competes for a 50/50 ball during UNA’s contest with Alabama-Huntsville Sept. 21. UNA won 2-1, earning its first home conference win of 2016.

The UNA soccer team earned its second Gulf South Conference victory of the season Sept. 21 when the Lions defeated Alabama-Huntsville 2-1 in Florence.

The Lions, (3-4, 2-1 GSC) victory gives them 11 in a row over the Chargers, dating back to 2009.

UNA’s offense had plenty of scoring opportunities with 25 shots taken and 11 shots on goal throughout the night, while UAH only had six.

“We generated shot after shot,” said UNA head coach Chris Walker. “We knew we were capable of scoring a goal, (and) it was just a matter of if it was going to go in.”

The Lions maintained heavy field presence during the first period, not allowing a shot from UAH the entire period. UAH struggled with fouls, accruing 3 yellow cards and 15 fouls in the game, with ten of those occurring in the first period.

Offensively, UNA could not take advantage of shooting opportunities until redshirt freshman Audrey Tanner, with an assist from junior forward Beatriz Fernandes, scored the first goal of the night 42 minutes in the game. This was Tanner’s first career goal as a college player.

The Lions held on to the 1-0 lead at halftime.

The Chargers came back 63 minutes into the game with a goal from junior forward Alexcia Alexander to even the score, 1-1.

Seven minutes later, the Lions scored what would be the game winner when true freshman midfielder Shelby Wall scored a goal off of a deflection that put the Lions up 2-1.

“We’ve been working a lot in practice on crossing the ball, getting down the in-line and getting it across the goal,” Wall said.

The Lions will next play rival West Alabama Sept. 25 at Bill Jones Athletic Complex at 1:00 p.m.