Lady'Backs look to end skid in Starkville

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Having dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season, the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team looks to rebound and get back on the winning side of the pitch when it faces Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss., on Sunday afternoon.

Both teams enter their Sunday match up having lost on Friday night, Arkansas to Mississippi, 2-0, and Mississippi State to LSU, 1-0. The Lady Razorbacks are also seeking their first Southeastern Conference win of the season, whereas Mississippi State picked up theirs in upset fashion when it defeated then eighth-ranked Tennessee at home last weekend.

“I am looking forward to Sunday,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “This is another opportunity for us to prove ourselves against an SEC caliber opponent. I am sure that both teams are looking at this match with the idea of picking up three points in the SEC standings. This is an important game for Mississippi State as it’s the final match in a four-game home stand and for us it’s important to pick up some points away from home. It should be a very competitive match.”

Over the years, Arkansas has been quite successful against the Mississippi State Bulldogs with nine wins in 11 career matches, but their two losses have been in Starkville with the last coming in 2002. Arkansas’ last trip to Starkville required then sophomore Katie Hamilton to knock in a diving header in overtime to give the Lady’Backs a 2-1 win.

Also on Arkansas’ mind is the fact that it is going through its first losing streak of the season having dropped two consecutive games. Prior to the last two games, Arkansas was a SEC best 7-1-0 and now sit at 7-3-0 overall, but more importantly have yet to pick up any points in the SEC making the game loom large.

Mississippi State enters the match with a 2-8-0 overall record, but has one SEC victory on their slate. The Bulldogs struggled to score goals in the early portion of the season, but have picked things up lately with five goals over their last three matches.

Fans of Lady Razorback soccer can listen to all the action on the radio at KXUA, 88.3 FM in Fayetteville or on the internet at LADYBACKS.COM. For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to LADYBACKS.COM.