FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Riding a seven-match home unbeaten streak, in which they’ve surrendered just five goals, the Arkansas women’s soccer team will host No. 6 Florida in Southeastern Conference play on Sunday, Oct. 5. The match is slated to start at 11:05 a.m. and will be featured broadcast live on the SEC Network.
| GAME INFORMATION | ||
|---|---|---|
GAME | Arkansas (6-2-4, 2-0-2 SEC) vs. No. 6 Florida (9-2-0, 4-0-0 SEC) | |
DATE/TIME | Oct. 5, 2014 | 11:05 a.m. CT | |
VENUE | Razorback Field (1,200) | Fayetteville, Ark. | |
LIVE STATS | ArkansasRazorbacks.com | |
TV | SEC Network | |
VIDEO | SEC Network+, ESPN3, WatchESPN App | |
TALENT | Tony DiCicco (P-B-P), Jonathan Yardley (Analyst) | |
LAST MEETING | Nov. 6, 2013; Florida 1, Arkansas 0 | |
SOCIAL | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | |
UP NEXT
Following Sunday’s matchup against the Gators, Arkansas will head to Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, Oct. 10 (6 p.m.) to battle to Lady Vols of Tennessee.
WITH A WIN
With a result against Florida on Sunday morning, the Razorbacks will extend their overall unbeaten streak (7) and home unbeaten streak (8), remain undefeated in conference play and earn the first points in the all-time series with UF.
NATIONAL TV (SEC NETWORK INFORMATION | SEC NETWORK CHANNEL FINDER)
The U of A’s matchups against the Gators of Florida (Sunday, Oct. 5) will be broadcast live on national TV. The match will be shown live on the SEC Network and streamed through ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN app.
Tony DiCicco and Jonathan Yardley will have the call.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | FLORIDA
- Sunday’s meeting with Arkansas marks the fifth consecutive SEC meeting for Florida against an opponent with an unbeaten league record.
- Last Meeting: Nov. 6, 2013 | UF 1, Arkansas 0
- Florida and Arkansas’s only meeting last season came in the opening round of the 2013 SEC Tournament. The Razorbacks defeated Missouri 4-0 in a SEC Tournament play-in match to claim a spot in the eight-team bracket. Florida advanced to the SEC Tournament semifinal after a 1-0 win over Arkansas. The only goal of the match came from Savannah Jordan. The ball headed forward from Havana Solaun was deflected high toward the top of the 18-yard box. Jordan caught up to make a quick chip forward and followed the ball to make the scoring touch past the goalkeeper at 23:02.
- Last Time Out | Florida at No. 9 Texas A&M
- The Gators opened the weekend with a 1-0 win at No. 9 Texas A&M on Friday. The goal came in the 84th minute. Tessa Andujar brought the ball from the touchline to just above the box. She fed the ball to Savannah Jordan who was making an angled run in the box. She took a right-footed shot that got past the goalkeeper and was headed to the far post. Aggie junior defender Karlie Mueller tried to stop the ball, but it clipped off her right foot into the goal.
- To get the shutout at A&M, the Gators turned in some key defensive plays. Senior goalkeeper Taylor Burke matched her career-high of eight saves, including making a stop on a shot from SEC goal leader Shea Groom on a 1v1 situation. Early in the second half, Burke tipped an Aggie shot out for a corner kick. On that corner kick, junior Claire Falknor headed out a TAMU shot from just inside the far post.
- Arkansas (6-2-4, 2-0-2 SEC) picked up an important three points in the SEC standings thanks to a goal in the 50th minute by senior Hailey Pescatore. The Razorbacks put up a strong defensive effort on Friday night as they picked up their third shutout of the season. The also win extends Arkansas’ unbeaten streak to six games as they are now 3-0-3 over the stretch.
- Pescatore scored her first career goal in a Razorback uniform thanks to a shot from sophomore Rachel Riggs that bounced crossbar and landed in front of sophomore Alexandria Fischer and sent a cross inside the 18-yard box to Pescatore, who buried the shot into the bottom left of the goal. The win gave Coach Hale a 2-1-0 record against Vanderbilt.
- Arkansas is now 10-17-1 against the Commodores all-time.
- The Razorbacks are now 6-8-0 against Vanderbilt in games in Fayetteville.
- The win, coupled with Texas A&M’s loss to Florida, made Arkansas one of two unbeaten teams in SEC play.
- Hailey Pescatore’s goal was her first of the season and of her career.
- Alexandra Fischer’s assist gave her seven points (2 goals, 3 assists) in the last seven games.
- Rachel Riggs’ assist was her second of the year and the sixth of her career.
- Cameron Carter’s shutout was the third of the season and the 10th of her career.
- Coach Hale Postgame Sound
- On the win
“I think the thing we are elite at is just winning. They are a tough group, nothing fazes them. I thought in the first half, we were quite good defensively. We held them to two shots and a corner. Vanderbilt has some special attacking players, so I thought we did a really good job at eliminating their chances.”
- On the win
- 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. 24 with 3,098 followers and is just nine followers shy of the No. 23 spot (Tennessee - @LadyVol_Soccer).
- Arkansas (6-2-4, 2-0-2 SEC) is currently riding a six-game unbeaten streak. The Razorbacks are 3-0-3 in their last six contests.
- The Razorbacks are also riding a seven-game home unbeaten streak (6-0-1) and have outscored opponents 16-5 during the streak.
- Arkansas is 30-20-5 in the Colby Hale era.
- Arkansas is 19-7-2 in 28 home games under Hale.
- The Razorbacks have complied a 13-12-3 SEC record under Hale.
- Arkansas is 58-123-16 all-time record in SEC play.
- Arkansas owns a 103-86-15 record at Razorback Field.
- Arkansas is one of two undefeated teams in SEC play (Florida).
- The Razorbacks have gone into overtime in four of their last six outings.
- SEC Stats | SEC Standings
- After receiving three votes in a national poll last week (NSCAA), Arkansas did not receive any votes in either national poll this week.
- Arkansas also fell one spot into the No. 6 position in this week’s NSCAA NCAA Division I - South Poll, behind Florida, Texas A&M, Georgia, South Carolina and Missouri.
- 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 – 27th
- Points – 40th
- Scoring Offense – 57th
- Won-Lost-Tied Percentage – 86th
- ASHLEIGH ELLENWOOD, CLAIRE KELLEY, TYLER ALLEN and CAMERON CARTER are each ranked in the top 100 in at least one individual statistic
- Ellenwood is ranked 16th in total assists, 18th assists per game and 94th in points per game.
- Kelley is 25th in total assists and 30th in assists per game.
- Allen is 66th in assists per game.
- Carter is ranked 15th in goalie minutes played.
The second RPI of the 2014 season was released Monday afternoon (Sept. 29) on NCAA.com (games played thru Sept. 29). The Razorbacks ranked No. 37 and are one of seven SEC teams in the top 40.
4. Texas A&M
6. Florida
13. South Carolina
17. Georgia
30. Missouri
31. Tennessee
37. Arkansas
@RAZORBACKSOCCER PLAYER NOTES
- Alexandra Fischer has collected seven points (2 goals, 3 assists) in her last four games.
- Fischer is tied for second in points (6) and tied for fourth in goals (2) during SEC play.
- Ashleigh Ellenwood is tied for eighth in the SEC in points with 15 (4 goals, 7 assists)
- Ellenwood is also tied for fourth in the SEC in assists with seven.
- Claire Kelley tied her career-best for most points in one game (3) at LSU.
- Kelley is tied for eighth in the SEC in assists (6) and 10th in points with 14 (4 goals, 6 assists).
- Cameron Carter is third in the league in saves (49) and saves per game (4.08).
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)
8. 15, TYLER ALLEN (2011-present)
11. 14, Andie Hickman (1993-96)
12. 13, Nicole Bynum (1996-99)
Just out of the top 10:
10, JERIANN OKORO (2011-present)
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 103-86-15 all-time at Razorback Field. Under head coach Colby Hale, Arkansas is 19-7-2 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 5-0-1 record (two shutouts) at Razorback Field and have outscored visitors 14-4.
HOME COOKIN’
The Razorbacks have arguably one of the best home-field advantages in country. Averaging 1,423 fans per home contest, the Razorbacks rank fourth in the SEC in average home attendance.
1. South Carolina – 3,493/gm
2. Texas A&M – 3,012/gm
3. Georgia – 1,671/gm
4. Arkansas - 1,423/gm
5. Tennessee – 1,422/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.