Lady'Backs shut out in Oxford

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team made several strong pushes at the University of Mississippi goal but to no avail as the Lady’Backs were shut out for the first time this season, 2-0, in Oxford, Miss.

The loss drops the Lady Razorbacks to 7-3-0 on the season and 0-2-0 in Southeastern Conference play while Mississippi improves to 6-4-1 overall and 2-0-1 in conference action.

“Yes it was a loss but to be fair to them, we loss to the better side tonight,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “We were able to contain them in the first half and counter late in the period but at the end of the day they had too much speed and were too deep. We have nothing to be ashamed of. All that happened was that we lost to a very good nationally ranked team who will challenge for the SEC Championship.”

A statistically even game at the half, Arkansas controlled much of the tempo in the final 20 minutes of play, but the 0-0 halftime score would not stand long into the second as the Lady Rebels put Arkansas behind in the 64th minute on a goal by Kelly Renie. Attacking down the left side, Chrissy Strinni sent a long pass to the far post where Renie was able to get a thigh on the ball and nip it past a diving Carrie Dillsaver.

Ole Miss would score again just five minutes later when Danielle Johnson connected on a similar play to put Arkansas down by two. On the second goal, the cross from the left side went to the top of the penalty box where Johnson struck a laser to the far post past the Lady Razorback defense and into the goal.

For as even as the game was in the first, Ole Miss dominated the second half playing most of the contest on the Arkansas end of the field. Arkansas was able to push forward on several occasions, but the Mississippi defense held strong and allowed just a few long shots to head toward their goal.

The Lady Razorbacks used senior Christina Burger to generate several of their prime scoring chances, but each shot or touch was contested by multiple Mississippi defenders. Despite that, Burger was able to make things happen on the offensive front by laying off balls to other Arkansas forwards and even beat the defense from time-to-time only to have her work thwarted at the last second by a third or fourth defender.

“I think that the way Ole Miss played Tina is a definite sign of respect to her as a player,” Henderson said. “It is no secret that she was an all-SEC player last year and she earned that honor for a reason. As we move forward this year she’ll get her opportunities, but we need to give her better support.”

The Lady Razorbacks continue their Mississippi road trip on Sunday afternoon when they take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville at 1:00 p.m. For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to LADYBACKS.COM.