Burger leads soccer to victory
FAYETTEVILLE – Junior Christina Burger scored twice in the second half to lead the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team to a 2-0 victory against Southeastern Louisiana University at Lady’Back Field in Fayetteville on Sunday afternoon.
The win improves the Lady Razorbacks to 3-4-0 on the season while Southeastern drops to 2-3-1.
“It wasn’t our best game by any means, but it was good enough to get the win,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “We also got the shutout which was important. I would have liked to have put away more of our opportunities, but their goalkeeper made four or five world class saves and you have to give them credit.”
Scoreless at the half despite a decided Arkansas advantage on the statistics page, the Lady Razorbacks came out of the locker rooms ready to compete and it showed as Burger netted the game’s first score 4:12 into the second period. On a long punt by senior goalkeeper Carrie Dillsaver, Burger ran under the ball just past the center line and dribbled it straight down the field toward the right side of the penalty area. She then took a shot that curved away from a sprawling Southeastern goalkeeper that hit the back side netting for the game’s first score.
The goal was Burger’s second of the season. Her third would come 17 minutes later in the 69th minute of the match. A Lady Razorback attack along the left side was started by junior Devon Burger who sent a cross to the top of the mixer where it was moved along by senior Megan McCool. McCool’s two-touch pass went to almost the same area as Burger’s first goal and this time she hit a high shot that sailed over the outstretched hand of Christa Wood and snuck just under the crossbar to give Arkansas a 2-0 lead.
The two-goal effort by Burger is not the first time she has hit for multiple scores, but it does match her career high. It also propels her into the scoring lead for the Lady Razorbacks in 2005 as she now has three scores on the year coupled with three assists fornine points. She is now more than halfway to her career best of 15 which she set during her freshman year of 2003.
Statistically, the Lady Razorbacks dominated the afternoon’s contest as they took 28 shots to the Lions three and were awarded 10 corner kicks to Southeastern’s three. Arkansas also posted 16 shots on goal, a season high, forcing Southeastern’s goalkeeper to make 13 saves. Arkansas’ shutout is its second of the season and 10th in the career of Lady Razorback goalkeeper Carrie Dillsaver who moves herself into third-place in Arkansas history with the effort. Her 15th career win moves her one closer to Arkansas’ all-time record.
Arkansas’ win wraps up their early non-conference season with one potential game to play as the Lady Razorbacks now prepare for the Southeastern Conference. Opening on the road in Nashville, Tenn., the Lady Razorbacks do not return back to Lady’Back Field until Sept. 30 when they host Mississippi State University at 7:00 p.m. For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.
