OXFORD, Miss. – Riding a three-match unbeaten streak, in which they’ve scored eight times and surrendered just two goals, the Arkansas women’s soccer team will battle Ole Miss in SEC play on Thursday night. The match, which is slated to start at 6 p.m. will be broadcast live on the SEC Network.
| GAME INFORMATION | ||
|---|---|---|
GAME | Arkansas (5-2-2, 1-0-0 SEC) at Ole Miss (6-2-2, 1-0-1 SEC) | |
DATE/TIME | Sept. 25, 2014 | 6 p.m. CT | |
VENUE | Ole Miss Soccer Stadium (1,500) | Oxford, Miss. | |
LIVE STATS | OleMissSports.com | |
TV | SEC Network (Channel Finder) | |
VIDEO | SECNetwork+, ESPN3, WatchESPN App | |
TALENT | Pete Pranica (P-B-P), Cat Whitehill (Analyst) | |
SERIES | 20th Meeting; Ole Miss leads 14-4-1 | |
SOCIAL | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | |
Following Thursday’s matchup at Ole Miss, Arkansas head to Baton Rouge, La. for a Sunday afternoon (Sept. 28) matchup with Tigers of LSU at 3 p.m.
WITH A WIN
With a win or a tie against Ole Miss on Thursday night, the Razorbacks will extend their unbeaten streak to four games and pick up their first road victory of the season.
ARKANSAS/OLE MISS SERIES
- The Razorbacks are looking to pick up their first road win of the season (fell at Texas and Duke earlier this season.
- Junior forward Olivia Harrison leads the Rebels with six goals, while sophomore forward Addie Forbus has five goals following the game-winner against Mississippi State last Friday.
- The Rebels (6-2-2, 1-0-1 SEC) are unbeaten on their home pitch this season (4-0-2) and are coming off a 1-1-0 weekend last week, where they defeated Mississippi State 1-0 (Sept. 19) and fell at UCF 4-0 (Sept. 21).
- Ole Miss holds a 14-4-1 advantage in the all-time series against Arkansas.
- The Razorbacks are 2-6-1 against the Rebels in games in Oxford, Miss., with the last Arkansas win in Oxford coming during the 2008 season.
- The Rebels have won two straight matches against the Razorbacks, picking up a 4-1 win in 2012 in Oxford and a 2-1 win over Arkansas last season on the road.
- Arkansas is 0-2-0 against Ole Miss under Coach Hale.
- Senior TYLER ALLEN’s 35-yard free kick goal in the second overtime period gave the Arkansas women’s soccer team a dramatic 2-1 victory over Kentucky on Friday night in its Southeastern Conference opener.
- The double overtime contest featured a combined 33 shots, 16 shots on goal, and 13 saves. Both teams had several near missed opportunities inside the 18-yard box as they played to a 1-1 tie in the game’s first 103 minutes.
- The Razorbacks own a 102-86-15 record at Razorback Field.
- Arkansas is 18-7-2 in 27 home games under Hale.
- Friday night’s attendance of 1,555 marked the fourth time in five home games this season the Razorbacks have drawn over 1,000 fans.
- The Razorbacks are 8-12-1 in SEC openers and 10-10-1 in SEC home openers.
- Under Coach Hale, Arkansas is 1-2-0 in SEC openers.
- With the 2-1 (2OT) win over UK on Friday, Arkansas is now 7-11-2 all-time vs. Kentucky and 5-3-1 at home against the Wildcats.
- Friday’s win gave the Razorbacks their third straight win over UK. Arkansas is now 5-1-1 in their last seven games against the Wildcats.
- Arkansas is 3-0-0 vs. Kentucky under Coach Hale.
- With the win, the Razorbacks extended their unbeaten streak at Razorback Field to six games. The last home loss for Arkansas came on Oct. 27, 2013 when they dropped a 1-0 decision to Georgia.
- With a social media push a week before to the season opener on Friday, Aug. 22, @RazorbackSoccer moved into the Top 25 for Division I women’s soccer Twitter accounts. Arkansas is now No. 23 with 3,031 followers and is 213 followers shy of the No. 22 spot (behind UCF - @UCF_WSoccer).
- Arkansas (5-2-2, 1-0-0 SEC) is currently riding a three-game unbeaten streak.
- Arkansas is 29-20-3 in the Colby Hale era.
- The Razorbacks have complied a 12-12-1 SEC record under Hale.
- Under head coach Colby Hale, Arkansas is 1-1-0 in its first SEC road game of the year.
- The Razorbacks are 7-10-1 in true road games under Hale.
- The Razorbacks are 6-14-0 all-time in their first road SEC game of the season.
- Arkansas is 57-123-14 all-time record in SEC play.
- SEC Stats | SEC Standings
- After not receiving votes in a national poll last week (TopDrawerSoccer and NSCAA), Arkansas received a trio of votes in the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Women's National Top 25 this week.
- Arkansas also moved up three spots into the No. 5 position in this week’s NSCAA NCAA Division I - South Poll, behind Florida, Texas A&M, South Carolina and Georgia.
- Click HERE to view this week’s NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I - South Poll
- The Razorbacks are ranked in the top 100 in four categories:
- Assists – 24th
- Points – 44th
- Scoring Offense – 60th
- Won-Lost-Tied Percentage – 73rd
- ASHLEIGH ELLENWOOD and CLAIRE KELLEY are each ranked in the top 70 in at least one individual statistic
- Ellenwood is ranked 8th in total assists, 11th assists per game and 48th in points per game.
- Kelley is 30th in total assists and 41st in assists per game.
The first RPI of the 2014 season was released Monday afternoon (Sept. 22) on NCAA.com (games played thru Sept. 21). The Razorbacks ranked No. 33 and are one of eight SEC teams in the top 35.
5. South Carolina
6. Texas A&M
15. Florida
19. Tennessee
27. Auburn
33. Arkansas
34. Missouri
NATIONAL TV (SEC NETWORK INFORMATION | SEC NETWORK CHANNEL FINDER)
The U of A’s matchups at Ole Miss (Thursday, Sept. 25) and LSU (Sunday, Sept. 28) will both be broadcast live on national TV. The matches, which are slated to start at 6 p.m. CT and 3 p.m. CT, respectively, will be shown on SEC Network and streamed through ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN app.
Pete Pranica and Cat Whitehill will have the call at Ole Miss, while Trey Bender and Shannon MacMillan will call the action at LSU.
@RAZORBACKSOCCER PLAYER NOTES
- Senior TYLER ALLEN received Honorable Mention for the TopDrawerSoccer.com Women’s Team of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal to lead the Razorbacks to a thrilling 2-1 (2OT) win over Kentucky in the SEC opener last week.
*Click HERE to view this week’s TopDrawerSoccer.com Women’s Team of the Week*- The goal was the second time this season that Allen has connected from 35-plus yards out for a goal, as she connected on a 40-yard free kick goal in Arkansas’ lone exhibition against Creighton.
- Allen’s goal was the second of the season and the fourth of her career.
- Allen’s goal also landed her on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays (No. 5) for the second time this season.
- Click HERE to watch the play on the Arkansas Women’s Soccer Facebook Page
- ALEXANDRA FISCHER’s goal in Friday’s win was her third of the year and the sixth of her career.
- ASHLEIGH ELLENWOOD’s assist in the victory gave her 15 points on the year through nine games.
- Her assist also gave her 63 points for her career.
- CLAIRE KELLEY’s assist on Fischer’s goal gave her four points over the last two games (1 goal, 2 assists)
- The assist was also her fifth of the season and the seventh of her career.
- CAMERON CARTER registered eight saves in 104:02 minutes between the pipes against Kentucky and for the solid effort in goal, she earned a spot on the College Soccer 360 (CollegeSoccer360.com) Primetime Performers Honor Roll on Wednesday afternoon.
Goals
1. 44, Julie Williford (2000-03)
2. 38, Ruthie Miller (1989-92)
3. 35, Mary Howard (1987-90)
4. 29, Christina Burger (2003-06)
5. 25, Brittany Burns (1995-98)
6. 24, Heather Cato (1996-99)
6. 24, ASHLEIGH ELLENWOOD (2012-present)
8. 20, Jessica Fraser (1997-98)
Assists
1. 26, Holly Collins (1997-01)
2. 17, Alexis Hyrup (1992-96)
3. 16, Abbey Wilburn (2005-08)
3. 16, Brittany Burns (1995-98)
3. 16, Honey Marsh (1991-94)
3. 16, Kit Carson (1990-93)
3. 16, Ruthie Miller (1989-92)
8. 15, Julie Williford (2000-03)
8. 15, ASHLEIGH ELLENWOOD (2012-present)
9. 14, Andie Hickman (1993-96)
9. 14, TYLER ALLEN (2011-present)
12. 13, Nicole Bynum (1996-99)
Points
1. 103, Julie Williford (2000-03)
2. 92, Ruthie Miller (1989-92)
3. 81, Mary Howard (1987-90)
4. 69, Christina Burger (2003-06)
5. 66, Brittany Burns (1995-98)
6. 63, ASHLEIGH ELLENWOOD (2012-present)
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The Razorbacks are 102-86-15 all-time at Razorback Field. Under head coach Colby Hale, Arkansas is 18-7-2 on its home pitch. Outscoring the opposition 21-13 with five shutouts, the Razorbacks finished the 2013 campaign with an 8-3 record on their home pitch. This season, the team has 4-0-1 record (one shutout) at Razorback Field and have outscored visitors 13-4.
HOME COOKIN’
The Razorbacks have arguably one of the best home-field advantages in country. Averaging 1,492 fans per home contest, the Razorbacks rank fifth in the SEC in average home attendance.
1. South Carolina – 3,761/gm
2. Texas A&M – 3,020/gm
3. Georgia – 1,519/gm
4. Tennessee – 1,498/gm
5. Arkansas - 1,492/gm
#SCTop10
In Arkansas’ 2-1 exhibition win over Creighton on Aug. 14, Tyler Allen’s 40-yard free kick goal in the 65th minute proved to be the game-winner. After a Creighton foul, Allen stepped up for a Razorback free kick and delivered a perfectly struck ball 40-yards down field that landed in left-hand side of the goal to break a 1-1 deadlock. Allen’s goal helped Arkansas pick up a victory in a contest they statistically dominated.
Her incredible goal came in at No. 6 on the SportsCenter Top 10 that night.
On Sept. 19, Allen found herself in a similar situation. Just four minutes into the second overtime, Kentucky committed a seemingly harmless foul 35-yards out from the goal. Allen, a free kick specialist, stepped up and delivered te ball from long distance into the upper left corner of the goal to give Arkansas its first win in a SEC opener since the 2011 season.
That night Allen made the SportsCenter Top 10 for the second time this season, this time at No. 5.
THE 2014 EDITION OF @RAZORBACKSOCCER
The Razorbacks are coming off a record-setting 2013 season that saw the team collect the most regular season wins in school history (15) and the programs first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. Arkansas will look to improve on those achievements this year as they enter one of the most anticipated seasons in program history.
Arkansas returns 20 players that accounted for 102 of the team’s 136 points from a team that went 15-8-1 and 5-6 in Southeastern Conference play. Of the 12 different players that scored a goal last year, eight return to make up 82 percent (36-of-44) of the goals.
TOP 100 UPPERCLASSMEN
Junior Ashleigh Ellenwood was named among Top Drawer Soccer's women's National Top 100 Upperclassmen. Ellenwood clocked in at the No. 54 spot.
The Michigan City, Ind., native enters her junior season on the heels of an All-SEC second team choice. Ellenwood led the Razorbacks with 35 points on team-highs of 14 goals and 7 assists a year ago to help Arkansas win a program-best 15 games. Over the 24-game season, Ellenwood registered a point in 14 of those contests, highlighted by six game-winning goals, which set a new program single-season record.
DUO NAMED TO THE COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS PRESEASON TEAM
Forward Ashleigh Ellenwood and defender Kaylyn Cooper were named to the College Sports Madness SEC Soccer Preseason All-Conference Teams.
Ellenwood, who earned All-SEC second team honors last season, was named to the first-team preseason all-conference squad. Cooper, an anchor of the Arkansas backline that registered five shutouts last season, earned a spot on the second team.
NATIONAL PRESEASON POLLS
The Razorbacks were ranked No. 23 in the 2014 TopDrawerSoccer.com Preseason Poll that was announced on Monday, Aug. 11. The Razorbacks were one of four SEC squads ranked in the Top 25 along with No. 4 Texas A&M, No. 5 Florida and No. 9 South Carolina.
Arkansas, one of seven SEC programs to at least receive votes in the NSCAA preseason top 25 poll, will face four opponents ranked in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Preseason Poll in No. 4 Texas A&M, No. 5 Florida, No. 8 North Carolina and No. 12 Duke. The Gators and the Aggies will both battle the Razorbacks at Razorback Field this season.
PRESEASON SEC POLL
With 20 letterwinners, including eight starters, returning from last year’s NCAA Sweet Sixteen squad, the Arkansas women’s soccer team was tabbed eighth in the SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, announced by the league office on Monday, Aug. 11.
LOVE FROM TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM
In TopDrawerSoccer.com’s SEC preseason preview, the outlet highlighted Arkansas.
Here’s what they had to say about head coach Colby Hale and his Razorbacks:
“It was a breakout campaign for head coach Colby Hale and the Razorbacks, winning the program’s first-ever NCAA tournament game, advancing all the way to the third round before bowing out to Duke on penalty kicks. Forward Ashleigh Ellenwood, whose play in 2013 helped her earn a call-up to a U.S. U23 WNT camp, looks to lead the program’s encore, as they continue to climb the regular season conference standings. In all, eight of the team’s starters from last year’s squad are back, including Jeriann Okoro, Tyler Allen and Claire Kelley.”
U-23 US NATIONAL TEAM CAMP
Ashleigh Ellenwood got an early jump on her preparation for the 2014 campaign when she participated in the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team Domestic Training Camp from July 15-22 in Seattle, Wash.
A total of 24 players that were either current collegiate athletes or just played their senior season last fall made up the roster that will be led by head coach Steve Swanson over the seven days.
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.
For more information on Arkansas soccer, follow @RazorbackSoccer on Twitter.