Arkansas works tie at Athens
ATHENS, Ga. – Sophomore Carrie Dillsaver made eight saves for the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team as it worked a scoreless tie against the host and Southeastern Conference foe Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Ga., on Sunday afternoon, 0-0.
The result moves the Lady Razorbacks to 6-6-2 overall and 2-2-2 in SEC play while Georgia goes to 3-6-4 overall and 1-3-2 in SEC action. Arkansas’ tie and eight points in conference action keep it in second place in the SEC’s western division.
“I think that this was a well earned result on the road,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “Considering our results against Georgia the past few years, I believe that this shows the direction that the program is going. We expended a tremendous amount of energy on Friday night against Tennessee and played perhaps our best game of the season and even though we were not as sharp today, and it was a scrappy game, I don’t apologize for the result.”
For Arkansas it was Dillsaver and the Lady Razorback defense that kept Arkansas in the contest throughout, but especially in the first half and first overtime period. Dillsaver picked up half of her save total in the first 45 minutes of action as Georgia pounded the Arkansas defense with attack after attack, but with the help of juniors Andrea Sparks and Katie Taylor and sophomores Devon Burger and Allison Harris, Arkansas kept the game scoreless.
The most dangerous scoring play of the match came in the second overtime when Georgia’s Ali Williams hit a rocket from 35 yards that was touched by Dillsaver and pinged off the right post. After a scuffle in front, Arkansas eventually cleared the loose ball and regrouped. The scoring chance came with just minutes left in the game.
“Sometimes the line between winning, losing and drawing is a very fine line,” Henderson said. “For the effort that we put in today it would have been unjust to not get a point. I’m sure that Georgia believes that they let points get away in the conference standings.”
Arkansas’ best scoring opportunities came in the second half when the Lady’Back forwards put pressure on the Georgia defense. The foursome of Jenni Brashear, Sarah Gwisdala, Carmen Davis and Ali Harter managed several shots, but even more confusion among the Bulldog defensive line and even had a cross that was just over the head of Brashear before it was snatched out of the air by the Georgia keeper.
The Lady Razorbacks are back in action on Friday evening, October 15, when they take on the 23rd-ranked Auburn Tigers at Lady’Back Field in Fayetteville. For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.
