Arkansas Impresses In Spring Opener
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Just a handful of months removed from a run to the SEC Tournament title game and an NCAA Tournament win for the third time in the last four years, the Arkansas women’s soccer team opened its five-game spring slate with a commanding 7-0 win over visiting Missouri State Saturday afternoon at Razorback Stadium.
The Razorbacks ranked second in the SEC and eighth nationally in total goals scored in 2016 and picked up right where they left off with at least two goals scored in each of the three 30-minute halves on the day.
“For a first game there were some positives. I thought we did a good job in some areas we placed as emphasis on at this point of the cycle,” said head coach Colby Hale, who has led Arkansas to its top two win totals in program history over his five seasons. “We set some individual performance objectives so we’ll go back and watch the film and review the stats to see how we did. At first glance I think we probably met most of them. We’ve worked extremely hard this spring with the goal of an SEC championship and making the NCAA Final Four. This felt like a positive step towards that.”
Senior-to-be Reid Sibley gave the Razorbacks a 1-0 lead just 24 seconds into the contest, while Jessi Hartzler made it 2-0 just over halfway through the first 30-minute half off a head on a cross delivered by Reece Christopherson.
The Bears applied pressure to open the second half, but Arkansas fought off the push and showcased its high-scoring ability with three goals over just a nine-minute span. SEC All-Freshman squad selection Stefani Doyle got the run started and Hartzler followed with her second goal of the game just three minutes later off a feed from Cailee Dennis. Kayla McKeon – also an SEC All-Freshman team selection in 2016 – closed the second period scoring to make it 5-0.
Arkansas’ final seven-goal output was finished off in the third period behind goals from Jazmyn Sollars and Madeline Barnes, who each redshirted last season.
The Razorback defense was strong the entire afternoon, allowing just one shot on goal.
Arkansas returns to the pitch in a week when it travels to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to face Central Oklahoma. Kick is slated for 11 a.m.
