#SeniorDay | @RazorbackSoccer Hosts No. 6 Texas A&M On Friday Night

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas women's soccer team will honor nine Razorbacks for Senior Day on Friday night when No. 6 Texas A&M visits Razorback Field. The match, which will be the final home contest of the 2014 the season for Arkansas, is scheduled to kick off at 7:05 p.m. CT and will not be broadcast on TV or streamed online.

SENIOR DAY is fast approaching! Come out to Razorback Field on Friday night to help us honor our 9 Razorbacks! #WPS pic.twitter.com/oYSQIHN5aL

— Razorback Soccer (@RazorbackSoccer) October 22, 2014

FYI...@HaileyPescatore wants Razorback fans to know that SENIOR DAY is TOMORROW NIGHT vs. #6 Texas A&M #WPS #BeThere pic.twitter.com/9VUbPLrwjs

— Razorback Soccer (@RazorbackSoccer) October 23, 2014

UP NEXT
Following Friday’s matchup against the Aggies, the Razorbacks will hit the road for the final two games of the regular season. Arkansas will head to Starkville, Miss. to face Mississippi State (Oct. 26) before traveling to Missouri to face the Tigers (Oct. 30).

WITH A WIN
With a result against No. 6 Texas A&M on Friday night, the Razorbacks will pick up their first win over a ranked opponent this season and will have earned a result in nine of their last 11 contests.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | NO. 6 TEXAS A&M

• The Aggies are guaranteed they will finish the season with a winning record. A&M has finished with a winning record in all of its previous 21 seasons. The closest the Aggies have finished to the .500 mark is the 14-8 (.636) record they posted in 1998.
• In week nine, A&M is ranked No. 6 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire poll, up two spots from a week ago. The Aggies are No. 8 in the Soccer America Top 25, No. 6 in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25 and No. 7 in the BennettRank poll.
• With their 18-5-2 mark last season, the Aggies posted their 10th consecutive 15-win season dating back to 2004. In their first 21 seasons, the only two years the Aggies have not reached the 15-win plateau are 1998 (14-8) and 2003 (13-6-3). The school record for victories stands at 20, set in 2002 with a 20-5-1 mark.

LAST TIME OUT: @RAZORBACKSOCCER VS. AUBURN (10.19.14)

• Haley Gerken of Auburn collected a golden goal from 30 yards out in the 108th minute to hand the Arkansas women’s soccer team a heartbreaking 2-1 double overtime defeat at Razorback Field on Sunday afternoon.
  • The Razorbacks were unable to make an early lead stand, as the Tigers posted a second half goal to force the Razorbacks into their third straight overtime game. Auburn collected the golden goal win in the 108th minute thanks to a 30-yard bending goal from Gerken that bounced off the hands of goalie Cameron Carter and rolled into the net.
  • Head coach Colby Hale’s team got off to a fast start by scoring a goal just 1:25 into the game, as senior Tyler Allen connected with the back of the net off a throw in from junior Ashleigh Ellenwood.
  • Auburn posted the equalizer in the 68th minute with an Alex Massey goal. That score would remain over the next 22 minutes of play to send the match into overtime.
• Sunday’s overtime game marked the third straight overtime game for Arkansas and the seventh time in the last 10 games they played extra time.
• All but two SEC games Arkansas has played this year have gone to overtime. (Vanderbilt, Florida)
• Sunday was the first overtime loss for Arkansas this season (1-1-5).
• Arkansas is now 1-2-0 against Auburn under head coach Colby Hale.
• Sunday’s attendance of 1,207 marked the seventh time this year that the Razorbacks have eclipsed 1,000 fans.
• @COLBYHALEUA SOUNDBITES
  • Thoughts on the Auburn game
    “Today we were not good enough. Everyone in the SEC is good. Auburn is a great team. I thought there were moments where we did some good stuff but in this league, you have to play every second, every minute. We didn’t and we got punished.”
  • On what to take from the Auburn loss
    “There is a big difference between being good and being great. On one side of the coin, our record is intact. We have everything ahead of us but on the other side, we have to dig deep and find the extra.”
  • On looking forward
    “I am looking for a few small things. The first one is toughness and mentality. We have to get it back. We used to have it, we used to play with an edge. We are going to work on getting those things back this week.”

@RAZORBACKSOCCER TEAM NOTES

• 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 3,153 followers and is 34 followers shy of the No. 23 spot (behind Tennessee - @LadyVol_Soccer).
• The Razorbacks are 14-13-1 all-time in regular season home finales.
• Arkansas is 31-22-6 in the Colby Hare era.
• In 32 SEC games under Hale, Arkansas is 14-14-4.
• Arkansas is 59-125-17 all-time in SEC games.
• The Razorbacks are 19-9-2 in 30 home games under Hale.
• Arkansas is 103-88-15 all-time at Razorback Field.
• The Razorbacks are 5-2-1 at home this season.
• Texas A&M holds a 5-4-1 advantage in the all-time series after winning last year’s meeting 4-3 in overtime in College Station, Texas.
• Arkansas is 2-2-0 against A&M in Fayetteville, but are 0-1-0 at Razorback Field.
• Coming into this season, Coach Hale has defeated at least one ranked team in each of his two season at Arkansas.
• Arkansas are 3-7-0 against Top 25 teams under Hale.
• Arkansas’ last victory over a Top 25 opponent came on Sept. 27, 2013 with a 3-0 win over No. 14 Kentucky in Lexington.
• The last win against a ranked team at Razorback Field happened on Sept. 21, 2012 when Arkansas defeated No. 18 Kentucky, 3-2.
• The Razorbacks have had an attendance of over 1,000 in six of their seven home games this season.
• SEC Stats | SEC Standings

NATIONAL POLLS

• Arkansas did not receive votes in either of this week’s Top 25 Polls.
  • Click HERE to view this week’s NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Poll.
  • Click HERE to view this week’s TopDrawerSoccer.com Division I Top 25 Poll.

• Arkansas fell five spots into the No. 9 position in the latest NSCAA NCAA Division I - South Poll, behind Texas A&M, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Missouri, Kentucky, Auburn and Alabama.
  • Click HERE to view this week’s NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I - South Poll.

NATIONAL RANKINGS (THRU GAMES 10.20.14)

• The Razorbacks are ranked in the top 100 in four categories:
  • Total Assists – 38th
  • Assists Per Game – 46th
  • Total Points – 73rd
  • Points Per Game – 80th
  • Total Goals – 91st
  • Scoring Offense – 86th
• Ashleigh Ellenwood, Claire Kelley and Cameron Carter are each ranked in the top 100 in at least one individual statistic.
  • Ellenwood is ranked 25th in total assists and 32nd in assists per game.
  • Kelley is ranked 42nd in total assists and 55th in assists per game.
  • Carter is ranked 7th in goalie minutes played and 82nd in total saves.

NCAA RPI
The latest RPI rankings of the 2014 season was released Monday afternoon (Oct. 20) on NCAA.com (games played thru Oct. 20). The Razorbacks fell nine spots from last week and are ranked No. 35. Arkansas is also one of eight SEC teams in the top 40.

• Click HERE to view this week’s NCAA Division I Women’s RPI.

5. Texas A&M
7. Florida
10. South Carolina
25. Missouri
28. Georgia
30. Kentucky
33. Auburn
35. Arkansas

@RAZORBACKSOCCER PLAYER NOTES            

• With an assist on Sunday, junior Ashleigh Ellenwood now has 66 career points, moving her into a tie for fifth on the school’s all-time points list with Brittany Burns (1995-98).
  • The assist was also the 16th of Ellenwood’s career putting her in a tie for third on the school’s all-time list with Burns.
  • It was also the eighth assist this season for Ellenwood, putting her in a tie for fifth on the school’s single-season assists list with Burns (1996), Honey Marsh (1994) and teammate Jeriann Okoro (2013).
  • Ellenwood is also No. 5 on the school’s all-time goals list with 25. This season, the Michigan City, Ind., native has collected five goals through 16 games.
• Sophomore Claire Kelley’s seven assist put her in a tie for eighth on the school’s single-season assists list with six other players.
• Tyler Allen’s 15 assists in her career put her in a tie for ninth on the school’s all-time assist list.

@RAZORBACKSOCCER ALL-TIME RECORDS WATCH
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, ASHLEIGH ELLENWOOD (2012-present)
5. 25, Brittany Burns (1995-98)
7. 24, Heather Cato (1996-99)
8. 20, Jessica Fraser (1997-98)

Assists
1. 26, Holly Collins (1997-01)
2. 17, Alexis Hyrup (1992-96)
3. 16, ASHLEIGH ELLENWOOD (2012-present)
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)
9. 15, Julie Williford (2000-03)
9. 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)
5. 66, ASHLEIGH ELLENWOOD (2012-present)

TDS TOP 100 UPPERCLASSMEN & FRESHMEN
Junior Ashleigh Ellenwood and freshmen Nicole Ortega and Jessi Hartzler were named among Top Drawer Soccer's Midseason Women's National Top 100 Upperclassmen and Freshmen. Ellenwood, who clocked in at the No. 54 spot on the Preseason list, was No. 47 on the Midseason list.

Rookies Hartzler and Ortega were ranked 52nd and 92nd, respectively.

• Click HERE to view the TDS Women’s National Top 100 List.
• Click HERE to view the TDS Women’s Freshmen Top 100 List

HOME COOKIN’
The Razorbacks have arguably one of the best home-field advantages in country. Averaging 1,366 fans per home contest, the Razorbacks rank fourth in the SEC in average home attendance.

1. South Carolina – 2,953/gm
2. Texas A&M – 2,922/gm
3. Georgia – 1,758/gm
4. Arkansas – 1,366/gm

NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The Razorbacks are 103-88-15 all-time at Razorback Field. Under head coach Colby Hale, Arkansas is 19-9-2 on its home pitch. Outscoring the opposition 21-1 with five shutouts, the Razorbacks finished the 2013 campaign with an 8-3 record on their home pitch. This season, the team has 5-2-1 record (two shutouts) at Razorback Field and have outscored visitors 16-9.

#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.

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.