FLORENCE, Ala. (Aug. 14, 2025) - The lights go up on the ETSU women's soccer team for 2025 tonight in Florence, as the Bucs play their first-ever matchup with the North Alabama Lions. Kickoff is set for 8:00pm Eastern.

Opponent: North Alabama
Location: Cox Creek Sports Complex (Florence, AL)
Kickoff: 8:00 ET
TV: ESPN+ (Benjamin Ray, Amy Butler Bailey)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

ETSU was picked seventh in the SoCon preseason poll on Monday after a 4-8-4 season in 2024 that saw them finish 3-3-3 in SoCon play, good for sixth. The Bucs return the vast majority of their offense from 2024, led by senior midfielder Grace Eatz with four goals and redshirt junior winger Ruby Teixeira with three. Junior forward Reagan Fitzgerald looks to add to her career tally of seven goals after five as a freshman in 2023 and two last season. Back line standouts include junior Ella Parker and redshirt sophomore Molly Cason, who returns tonight from a season-ending injury suffered in last year's season opener at UAB.

North Alabama was picked ninth out of 12 teams in the ASUN preseason poll this week after a 3-14 season in 2024 that saw the Lions use 14 different lineups in 17 games as they dealt with a rash of injury. The Lions have 18 new players this year, but their most notable addition is a returning Alice Bussey, back for a sixth year after missing all of 2024 with injury. Bussey had seven goals in 22 games in 2023, was named first team All-ASUN and second team All-American.

For more information on ETSU women's soccer, go to ETSUBucs.com.