Soccer

Mid-Week Report – Hogs Close Homestand With Goal Fest

September 5, 2017

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Each Tuesday this season, ArkansasRazorbacks.com will take a look back at the week that was. Readers will get an in-depth look at previous matches, social media buzz, highlights, and a look ahead at what’s to come.

This week, Arkansas (4-2-0) finished its four-match homestand with matches against James Madison and Mississippi Valley State. The Hogs were looking to gain momentum before hitting the road and were able to accomplish that by showcasing some offensive firepower.

MATCH 5 – James Madison vs. Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)
With the chance to get above .500 for the first time this season, the Razorbacks responded against a good James Madison squad, beating the Dukes, 2-0, at Razorback Field.

Freshman Taylor Malham’s goal in the 27th minute broke the scoreless tie to give Arkansas the first half advantage, but it was all the Hogs could muster before the break. It was Malham’s third goal in four matches as she continues her strong start to her freshman year.

Arkansas finally got the insurance in the second half when senior Katie Kienstra found the back of the net for the first time this year in the 74th minute off a great pass back from freshman Brooke Pirkle. The score secured Arkansas’ second-straight win over James Madison in the last two seasons and gave the team its first winning streak of 2017.

Razorbacks Shut Out Dukes For Second-Straight Win

The Arkansas soccer team only led James Madison by one goal through the majority of the match Friday night, until senior Katie Kienstra found the back of the net in the 74th minute to help the Razorbacks put away the Dukes, 2-0, at Razorback Field.

MATCH 6 – Mississippi Valley State vs. Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Arkansas reached scoring highs never before seen when it took on Mississippi Valley State last Sunday. The Hogs defeated the Devilettes, 11-0, the highest scoring affair ever in Razorback Soccer history.

Eight different players found the scoresheet with Pirkle, Kiesntra, and Kayla McKeon finding the back of the net twice. In total, 13 Razorbacks recorded at least one point in the match and the 11 goals beat the previous school record of nine that were scored against LSU back in the 1997 season.

Lost in all the scoring, Arkansas still recorded its second-straight shutout with goalkeepers Rachel Harris and Jordan Harris sharing time in between the pipes. Arkansas now has three shutouts on the season and limited opponents to just 21 shots over the last three matches.

Arkansas Finishes Weekend With Win Over MVSU

The Razorback soccer team lit up the scoreboard early and often Sunday afternoon, defeating Mississippi Valley State, 11-0, at Razorback Field for its fourth win of the season. The 11 scores sets a program record for goals in a game and is the most since scoring nine in a game during the 1997 season.

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

NATIONAL POLLS

Arkansas was receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll prior to last week’s matches. However, it wasn’t able to receive any votes this week in either of the national polls.

UNITED SOCCER COACHES POLL

TOP DRAWER SOCCER POLL

TOP 5 RAZORBACK NOTES FROM WEEK 3
-The 11 goals scored by the Razorbacks on Sunday against Mississippi Valley State were the most ever scored in a game in school history (9 vs. LSU in 1997).

-Arkansas took 43 shots against Mississippi Valley State, setting the program record for most shots in a single match.

-Katie Kienstra finished the weekend with three goals on six shots combined against James Madison and Mississippi Valley State. The goal total already triples the number of goals she had coming into the 2017 season (1).

-With now three shutouts on the season, including two last week against James Madison and Mississippi Valley State, Arkansas ranks among the top-60 teams in the nation and tied for fourth in the conference.

-Six of Kiesntra’s seven points this year came in the last two matches, the third-highest total of any SEC player last week. The five points against Mississippi Valley State was a new career-high and it was her first multi-goal game of her career.

Tickets
Season tickets are now on sale for $25. Each season ticket order will come with one 2017 Razorback Soccer scarf.  Single-game tickets can be purchased for $5 at the Razorback Field box office, which opens one hour before kickoff on game days. Current students can be admitted with their UA ID, and children 17 and under are admitted free.

For more information on Razorback Soccer, follow @RazorbackSoccer on Twitter.

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