7 Key Takeaways From The Alabama-Birmingham Women's Soccer 2025 Season: Roster, Stars, And AAC Tournament Run
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Women's Soccer team, the Blazers, concluded their 2025 campaign with a competitive 7-6-6 overall record, marking a pivotal year of transition and achievement within the challenging American Athletic Conference (AAC). As of today, December 20, 2025, the focus shifts to the program's upward trajectory under Head Coach Lisa Mann, who guided the team to a strong showing in the AAC Tournament, solidifying their status as a rising force in collegiate soccer.
The 2025 season was defined by standout individual performances, particularly from players who earned weekly and postseason honors, and a deep run into the conference championship. Despite a tough 2-1 loss to UTSA in the quarterfinal round of the American Women's Soccer Championship, the team's ability to compete in a highly competitive league demonstrated the foundation being built for future success in Birmingham, Alabama.
The 2025 UAB Blazers Women's Soccer Roster and Coaching Staff
The 2025 squad was led by a mix of experienced veterans and promising newcomers, all operating under a stable coaching structure. Head Coach Lisa Mann, who entered her third season with the Blazers, continued to instill her vision for the program, supported by Associate Head Coach Mark Hiller, also in his third year.
Key Personnel and Leadership
- Head Coach: Lisa Mann (Third Season)
- Associate Head Coach: Mark Hiller (Third Season)
Notable Players on the 2025 Roster
The Blazers' success was a team effort, but several key student-athletes consistently anchored the offense, defense, and midfield throughout the season.
- Lailah Stewart: A dynamic forward who was a primary scoring threat and earned American Conference postseason recognition.
- Avery Berryman: A consistent presence on the field, also receiving American Conference honors for her performance.
- Abbey Burns: Recognized as the American Offensive Player of the Week during the season for her goal-scoring prowess.
- Ava Mills: An integral part of the defense, earning the American Defensive Player of the Week award.
- Lauren Lucero: Collected an American Conference weekly award for her overall contributions.
- Caitlin Keeling: Earned an American Conference Honorable Mention during the non-conference schedule.
- Other Key Roster Entities: Yesenia Aiken, Emerson Roberts, Leah Parsons, Njeri Lewis, Graycen Elliott, Brielle Rochester, and Maisie Wilson all played crucial roles in the team's depth and performance.
2025 Season Review: American Athletic Conference (AAC) Highlights
The UAB Women's Soccer team finished the 2025 regular season with a respectable 7-6-6 record, a testament to their competitive spirit and ability to secure results against a diverse schedule. Competing in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) meant facing high-caliber opponents weekly, making their seven victories particularly significant.
The non-conference slate prepared the Blazers for the rigor of the AAC. Early in the season, they faced a tough 1-2 loss to UCF but showed resilience with a 1-1 draw against ETSU. These early results helped forge a disciplined and competitive mindset for conference play.
Key Victories and Defining Moments
Several matches stood out as defining moments for the 2025 UAB team, showcasing their offensive firepower and defensive grit:
- Dominant Home Win: A high-scoring 5-2 victory over East Carolina in Birmingham demonstrated the team's offensive potential, with multiple players contributing to the goal tally.
- Road Shutout: The Blazers secured a critical 2-0 road win against Florida Atlantic, highlighting their ability to perform under pressure away from PNC Field.
- Samford Draw: A 0-0 draw with Samford to close the non-conference schedule in September was a hard-fought battle that proved their defensive solidity.
However, the season also included narrow losses, such as a 0-1 defeat to Temple, illustrating the fine margins that define competition in the American Conference.
Star Power: UAB's Top Performers and Postseason Honors
Individual player development was a major success story for the UAB program in 2025. The recognition received from the American Athletic Conference office underscored the quality and impact of the Blazers' top athletes. These honors not only celebrate the players but also boost the team's recruiting profile.
A Trio of Postseason Honorees
The team celebrated three players earning American Postseason recognition, a significant achievement for the program. Lailah Stewart and Avery Berryman were among those honored, cementing their status as two of the most valuable players on the squad. Stewart, in particular, was the team's top scorer, contributing 8 goals and 3 assists for 19 points over 19 games.
Weekly Award Dominance
The Blazers consistently appeared on the AAC's weekly awards list, demonstrating week-to-week excellence:
- Offensive Excellence: Abbey Burns was named Offensive Player of the Week following a standout performance, showcasing her ability to convert opportunities into goals.
- Defensive Fortitude: Ava Mills' selection as Defensive Player of the Week was a nod to the entire backline's organization and resilience.
- Consistent Contribution: Lauren Lucero also earned a weekly award, highlighting the depth of talent contributing to the team's success across all positions.
These individual accolades collectively build the reputation of the UAB Women's Soccer program, proving that talent development is a core strength under Coach Mann's leadership.
Looking Ahead: The Future of UAB Women's Soccer
The 2025 campaign, with its 7-6-6 final record and appearance in the American Women's Soccer Championship quarterfinal, sets a high bar for the Blazers moving forward. The stability in the coaching staff with Lisa Mann and Mark Hiller, combined with the proven talent of players like Lailah Stewart and Avery Berryman, suggests a strong foundation for the 2026 season.
The program has successfully navigated the competitive landscape of the AAC, establishing itself as a consistent tournament contender. The focus for the next recruiting cycle will be on maintaining the team's defensive strength while further enhancing the goal-scoring creativity to turn more draws into wins. Fans in Birmingham, Alabama, can look forward to another thrilling season of high-stakes collegiate soccer as the Blazers aim to climb higher in the American Athletic Conference standings.
Detail Author:
- Name : Carson Senger
- Username : elisa.kemmer
- Email : kara.aufderhar@gmail.com
- Birthdate : 1970-03-24
- Address : 8136 Feest Parkways Melanybury, NJ 41209
- Phone : 1-972-539-9603
- Company : Mueller, Lehner and Pfannerstill
- Job : Signal Repairer OR Track Switch Repairer
- Bio : Dolor vitae explicabo sit consequatur pariatur rerum similique autem. Adipisci sequi ut ut. Ut distinctio a nihil dolore. Quo illo rerum voluptatem eum et.
Socials
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/hermann1972
- username : hermann1972
- bio : Excepturi iure ea quia vitae ut accusantium.
- followers : 6506
- following : 918
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/hermanne
- username : hermanne
- bio : Maiores earum quas in laborum aliquam. Sint vitae voluptas minus ut est.
- followers : 1980
- following : 2011
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/evelyn.hermann
- username : evelyn.hermann
- bio : A placeat pariatur animi. Quia tempore vero deleniti in molestiae.
- followers : 2393
- following : 1740
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/evelynhermann
- username : evelynhermann
- bio : Cum tempore qui repellat incidunt minus corporis.
- followers : 4553
- following : 1392
