CARROLLTON, Ga.- The University of West Georgia women's soccer team continues its 2026 campaign Thursday, traveling to Johnson City, Tennessee, to take on East Tennessee State at 6 p.m. at Summers-Taylor Stadium.

The Wolves enter Thursday's matchup at 0-1-1 after opening the season with a 1-1 draw at Jacksonville State before falling 1-0 to Mercer in their home opener. ETSU enters at 0-1 after dropping its season opener 4-0 at Vanderbilt.

Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Sanabria earned her first United Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week award of the 2026 season after posting consecutive 12-save performances to open the year.

Sanabria opened the season with 12 saves against Jacksonville State, setting a new UWG Division I record for saves in a season opener. She followed with another 12 saves against Mercer, giving her 24 saves through two matches. The consecutive double-digit save performances marked the first time a UWG goalkeeper had accomplished the feat since Jackie Donaldson in 2018.

Through two matches, Sanabria has played all 180 minutes and leads the UAC with 24 saves. She also ranks second in the conference with a .923 save percentage and second with a 1.00 goals-against average. 

Noemi Casique has led the charge for UWG on the offensive end, as she is the only Wolf to find the back of the net through the first two matches. In the season opener, Casique scored off an assist from Morgan Setzer, tying her for first in the conference with one goal. 

ETSU enters Thursday's match at 0-1 following a 4-0 loss to fifth-ranked Vanderbilt on Sunday. The Buccaneers held Vanderbilt to one goal during the opening 45 minutes before the Commodores scored three times in the final 17 minutes. Vanderbilt finished with a 19-1 advantage in shots and a 12-1 edge in shots on goal.

Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Addison Yelton made eight saves against Vanderbilt, marking the second-highest save total of her career. ETSU was originally scheduled to open the season against North Alabama, but that match was canceled, making Thursday's contest against UWG the Buccaneers' home opener.

Thursday marks just the second all-time meeting between the Wolves and Buccaneers. ETSU won the first matchup, 2-0, in Carrollton last season. UWG will make its first trip to Summers-Taylor Stadium as the Wolves look to earn their first victory of the season and their first win in Johnson City.

The Wolves and Buccaneers are set for a 6 p.m. kickoff Thursday, Aug. 20, in Johnson City. Fans unable to attend can follow the match through live stats and the live broadcast on ESPN+.