Hogs earn another SEC road tie
LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the second Sunday in a row, 110 minutes was not enough to decide an Arkansas soccer game as the Razorbacks and Kentucky battled to a 0-0 double-overtime tie on Sunday.
Arkansas appeared to have won with 45 seconds remaining in the second overtime, but the Razorbacks were called for off sides.
Last Sunday, Arkansas and Alabama ended a double-overtime game with a 0-0 tie in Tuscaloosa.
The tie moved Arkansas to 7-3-4 overall and 1-3-2 in the Southeastern Conference. Kentucky is 4-6-4 overall and 1-4-1 in the SEC. The Razorbacks are 1-0-2 in their last three games, all SEC road games.
With less than a minute remaining in overtime, Sophie Wentz sent a cross into the box. The ball was batted around before Camille Flores went up and headed the ball into the goal to her right and just to the left of the keeper for an apparent game-winner with 45 seconds remaining.
As the Razorbacks were celebrating, an official called Flores for off sides. Kentucky quickly played the ball in off a goal kick and got position inside the Arkansas 18. Lauren Hallauer hustled back and broke up the opportunity by knocking the ball out through the goal line.
“We asked them to get in the box and be super courageous,” head coach Erin Aubry said. “Cam and several players did that. Unfortunately she came from an off sides position. The referee made a good call. Those are the breaks sometimes.”
With the clock winding down after Hallauer kicked the ball through the goal line, the Wildcats got off a corner kick in the final seconds, but a header by 6-3 Laura Novikoff was out of bounds over the goal as time expired.
The overtime game was the fourth of the season for Arkansas with all four taking place on the road.
The Razorbacks had a clear advantage in shot attempts, taking 22 while Kentucky attempted just 10. Only six of Arkansas’ shots were on goal while UK had four on goal.
“I asked a lot of our players today and they gave everything they had,” Aubry said. “They played outstanding. It was awesome.”
In the first half, neither team mounted many offensive threats. The Razorbacks took seven shots with only two on goal while Kentucky managed just two shots with neither one on goal. The Razorbacks did have five corner kicks, but were not able to capitalize.
Arkansas had nine corners for the game while the Wildcats had six.
Kentucky entered the game fourth in the SEC in goals against average following Friday’s 1-0 upset victory over No. 13 LSU.
In addition to last week’s tie at Alabama, Arkansas’ other overtime games this year were the 0-0 tie at Tulsa and the 1-1 tie at Florida Atlantic.
Arkansas keeper Britni Williams recorded four saves and extended her school record for shutouts to 21.
Following four straight SEC road games, the Razorbacks play their next two at home. Arkansas plays host to Mississippi State on Friday at 7 p.m. and Ole Miss on Sunday at 1 p.m.
“This is the first weekend we played a full two games,” Aubry said, referring to Friday’s 2-0 win at Vanderbilt. “To go 1-0-1 on a road trip in the SEC is tough to do. Today we looked like we were playing a Friday night game.
“We still need to be a little more creative on our scoring opportunities,” she said. “We’re excited to get back home in front of the Razorback fans.”
Download: ark, kentucky game.pdf
