FAYETTEVILLE – Led by 20 returners from last year’s NCAA Sweet Sixteen squad, as the Arkansas women’s soccer team officially opened its preseason camp early Wednesday morning at Razorback Field.
Led by third-year head coach Colby Hale, who has orchestrated Arkansas to program two-year record 24 wins over his first two seasons, the Razorbacks busy morning started with fitness testing before the team took the field for practice.
A competitive first session started with tactical work and a small-sided game before the Razorbacks broke into an 11v11 game that featured two 30-minute halves. Arkansas will return to the pitch tonight at 7 p.m. to avoid the extreme heat during the day to wrap up the first day.
The players reported to campus on Tuesday as the team held several preseason meetings and its annual photo day in the morning.
Fans will be able to get their first look at this year’s team on Thursday, August 7, during the Red-White scrimmage which is open to the public. The game will kick-off at 7:15 p.m. at Razorback Field
What’s Back?
The 20 returners from the 2013 team that won a program record 15 games, helped lead Arkansas to its first NCAA Tournament and advanced all the way to the Sweet Sixteen, accounted for 102 of the team’s 136 total points last year. Of the 12 different players that scored a goal in 2013, eight return to make up 82 percent (36-of-44) of the goals last year. Sophomore keepers Cameron Carter and Taylor Erwin accounted for every minute in net last year, helping the defense post a program single-season record eight shutouts.
The SEC Network Is Coming
Arkansas will have a big role on the opening night of the SEC Network’s existence on Thursday, August 14, as it will host the first live event to ever air on the network. The Razorbacks will host Creighton in an exhibition contest starting at 7 p.m. that is slated to be broadcast live on SEC Network+, the network’s digital platform that can be watched online at www.SECNetwork.com or via the WatchESPN app. Before and during the game, the SEC Network will do live look-ins to Razorback field, in addition to the game being available on SEC Network+.
2013 #RazorFact To Remember
Arkansas’ record-setting 2013 started in style, as it opened with seven straight wins to find its way into the top 25 for the first time in program history. Over the opening seven games of last year, the Razorbacks out-scored their opponents 15-5 while coming away three overtime victories.
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