Defense holds strong Lady'Backs lose tough game

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Using a pieced together defense due to injuries, the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team kept the defending Big XII Champion and 23rd-ranked Kansas Jayhawks off the scoreboard for 63 minutes, but a long shot dashed Arkansas’ hopes of an upset at the University of Kansas’ SuperTarget Field on Friday night, 1-0.

The loss drops the Lady Razorbacks to 1-2-0 on the season, while Kansas improves to 2-1-1.

“I don’t think that I could be prouder of our team today,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “We were missing four starters today and we made Kansas work for everything. I was pleased to see our freshmen step up and it took a special goal to beat us. Our key now is to rebound and play with the same energy against Oral Roberts that we showed tonight and against Tulsa and Baylor.”

Despite two newcomers in the defensive starting lineup, the Lady Razorback back line made a statement in the first half as they held Kansas off the scoreboard and with precious few quality scoring opportunities. While the Jayhawks did manage a pair of headers inside the six-yard box, both flew wide of the net.

Offensively, the Lady Razorbacks produced the best scoring chance to the opening 45 minutes when an Abbey Wilburn corner kick to the far post was kicked straight into the air by the Kansas defense. Coming down at the top of the 18-yard box, senior Morgan McCord hit the ball on the volley and sent a curving shot to the cross bar that Kansas’ Colleen Quinn had to knock over the bar with her hand to prevent from going into the goal.

Kansas got on the scoreboard first in the 64th minute when they put together a furious attack in the Arkansas half of the field. Forcing the Lady Razorbacks on their heels, Kansas got the ball to Jessica Bush 27 yards from goal. She then took a laser of a shot that sailed into the upper left 90 to break the scoreless tie.

Looking for the equalizer, freshman Abbey Wilburn drew a foul from the Kansas defense just outside the penalty area. Kansas formed a four person wall 10 yards from the ball as the Lady Razorbacks set up near the far post. Senior Holly Rosen took the impending free kick and hit a strong shot that sailed just over the crossbar.

The Lady Razorbacks are back in action on Sunday afternoon for their home opener against Oral Roberts University at Lady’Back Field. For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.