RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's soccer team returns home this week to host Central Arkansas and North Alabama at the EKU Soccer Field.
 
The Colonels will face Central Arkansas on Thursday at 4 p.m. ET. Fans can take part in the season's first Thirsty Thursday promotion.
 
On Sunday, EKU will host North Alabama at 1 p.m. ET for Senior Day. Supporters are encouraged to arrive early for festivities honoring seniors Maddy Murphy, Sydney Taylor, Kaitlyn Rowlett, and Emma Spivey.
 
EKU (6-2-2, 1-1-0 ASUN) split the opening week of Atlantic Sun Conference play in Tennessee, falling 2-0 at Lipscomb before earning a 1-0 win at Austin Peay. The team's lone goal on the road trip was scored by sophomore midfielder Avery May, her second of the season.
 
On the year, the Colonels are led by sophomore forward Ella Grode, who is second in the ASUN Conference in goals scored with six. The Avon Lake, Ohio product also leads the club in points (14), shots (22), and shots on goal (11).
 
In goal, freshman keeper Jordan LeVasseur has earned the start in EKU's last four games and logged 33 saves with an 85 percent save rate. Last time out, the Michigan native completed the second shutout of her career with seven saves against APSU.
 
Entering the week, EKU checks in at No. 47 in the latest NCAA RPI poll released on Tuesday morning. The Colonels are the fourth-highest mid-major program in the country behind Brown (35), Cal State Fullerton (43), and Loyola Chicago (46).
 
Scouting Central Arkansas
Central Arkansas (3-5, 0-1 ASUN) enters Thursday's game on a two-match losing streak, suffering losses to Missouri State (0-1) on Sept. 11 and North Alabama (0-1) on Sept. 21 to open league play.
 
The Sugar Bears are led offensively by redshirt-junior forward Trace Pavatt. The Conway, Arkansas native has scored four of the team's 14 goals this season.
 
History vs. Central Arkansas
Thursday's match is the fifth meeting between EKU and UCA since 2021. Central Arkansas leads the head-to-head series 3-1 and has won the last two meetings.
 
Scouting North Alabama
North Alabama (5-2-2, 1-0-0 ASUN) comes to the Commonwealth on a two-match winning streak, defeating Tennessee Tech (1-0) and Central Arkansas (1-0) to open league play. The Lions will face current league No. 1 Bellarmine on Thursday before coming to town over the weekend.
 
Graduate forward Alice Bussey leads the club with four goals and accounts for 40 percent of the team's scoring efforts in 2025. The England native is a one-time ASUN Offensive Player of the Week honoree this season.
 
History vs. North Alabama
Sunday marks the fifth meeting between EKU and UNA since the Colonels joined the league in 2021. EKU owns the series 2-0-2 and defeated the Lions 4-1 last season on the road.