Arkansas looks for 2-0 start against Kentucky

FAYETTEVILLE – Coming off an emotional high from a big win against the Vanderbilt Commodores, the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team hopes that there is not let down when it faces off against the Kentucky Wildcats at Lady’Back Field in Fayetteville on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.

The Lady Razorbacks worked a win out of Friday night’s contest when freshman Sarah Gwisdala scored with less than seven minutes left in regulation. Arkansas’ victory is the second time in as many years that it opened the Southeastern Conference season with a win and at 5-4-0, the Lady Razorbacks are in the midst of their best start since 1993. Gwisdala broke free from the Commodore defense to score her team-leading fifth goal of the season and second game-winning tally, but more importantly, the victory gives Arkansas loads of confidence as it enters Sunday’s match with a talented Kentucky squad.

The Wildcats also enter Sunday’s match with a 1-0-0 SEC record after shutting out the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge, 2-0 on Friday evening. At 4-4-0 overall, Kentucky has faced some of the nation’s top teams and is ready for the rigors of SEC play.

Last season the two squads met in Lexington, Ky., and after falling behind quickly 2-0, Arkansas rallied behind then freshman Christina Burger who scored two goals in 17 seconds to knot the match at two. Burger’s feat is one of the quickest back-to-back tallies in NCAA history, but the effort would end up being all for naught as Kentucky tallied the game winning goal in overtime. A tight match for most of the 90-plus minutes, both squads look have many of the same personnel as last season which could make the game one of the more exciting matches at Lady’Back Field this season.

Following its win on Friday, Arkansas is now 3-1-0 at the friendly confines of Lady’Back Field, and much of the credit goes to the pro-Lady Razorback crowds that have come to the stadium. In four matches this season, the Lady’Backs have had the seventh and eighth largest crowds ever including the largest opening day crowd watch Arkansas wins. Another large crowd would certainly be an asset in what should be another close Arkansas match.