Mid-Week Report – Soccer Opens Season In Texas

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, the Razorbacks are coming off the opening weekend to the 2017 season that included a swing through the Lone Star State, where they faced reigning American Athletic Conference (AAC) champions SMU and preseason Conference USA (C-USA) favorite, North Texas.

MATCH 1 – Arkansas at SMU (Dallas, Texas)
For the second-straight season, Arkansas began the year on the road as it traveled a little over five hours south to Dallas to face the 2016 AAC champion and NCAA Tournament team, SMU. Unfortunately, even with a face-paced second half, the Razorbacks were shutout by the Mustangs, 1-0, in overtime.

Arkansas seemingly won the possession game throughout, but was unable to break through a tough SMU team. Sophomore midfielder Kayla McKeon paced the Razorbacks with two shots, one on frame. Freshman goalkeeper Rachel Harris got the start in the net and notched three saves.

Arkansas Drops 1-0 Decision In Overtime With SMU

Box Score (PDF) DALLAS, Texas – Despite registering six of its eight shots in the second half and just missing a goal in the final seconds of regulation, No. 17 Arkansas fell in its opener to SMU Friday night, 1-0 in overtime.

MATCH 2 – Arkansas at North Texas (Denton, Texas)
The Razorbacks won their first match of 2017 in style on Sunday, getting goals from freshman Taylor Malham and sophomore Kayla McKeon, pacing a 2-0 victory over the Mean Green.

Both Malham’s and McKeon’s goals were scored in a span of one minute and 13 seconds during the first half, putting North Texas in a two-goal deficit before the midway point of the first half.

Redshirt junior goalkeeper Jordan Harris earned her first shutout of the season as she made five saves in the match, four in the first half.

Quick Strikes Lead Arkansas to Shutout

DENTON, Texas – The 17 th-ranked Razorback soccer team burst out of the gate Sunday afternoon, scoring two goals in a span of two minutes and then holding off North Texas for a 2-0 victory, it’s first of the 2017 season.

GOAL OF THE WEEK
On Sunday at North Texas, sophomore Kayla McKeon received a perfect cross in from sophomore Stefani Doyle and rocketed a one-timer past the keeper to put the Hogs up 2-0 on the Mean Green. It was McKeon’s 10th goal of her career, which leads all active Razorbacks.

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

NATIONAL POLLS
Arkansas went into week one as the 17th-ranked team in the nation according to the United Soccer Coaches Poll (USC). This week, the Razorbacks dropped out of the poll, but were ninth-leading non-ranked team receiving votes. CLICK HERE to see the whole USC poll.

In the Top Drawer Soccer poll, Arkansas was 19th for week one, but has dropped four spots to No. 23 this week. CLICK HERE to view this week’s TopDrawerSoccer.com Division I Top 25 Poll.

TOP 5 RAZORBACK NOTES FROM WEEK 1
-Sunday’s 2-0 victory over North Texas was the fourth time in the last six seasons under head coach Colby Hale that Arkansas has tallied at least one shutout on opening weekend.

-Redshirt junior goalkeeper Jordan Harris made five saves in Sunday’s victory over the Mean Green, her third-most in a match in her career.

-With Arkansas’ win at North Texas, it marked the first loss for the Mean Green at home since 2014.

-The shutout for Harris was her first lone shutout of her career, giving her 1.5 over the last three seasons.

-Sophomore Kayla McKeon’s goal against North Texas was her 10th of her career.

TOP SOUNDBYTE FROM COLBY HALE
“Today was a good win. Sunday matches are often about game plan and mentality. Today we earned that result. There were numerous factors that could have played a role and hats off to our players. they didn’t let it affect the result. It was a well-deserved win. We will enjoy this and then get ready for a good Penn State team starting Monday.” – On the win over North Texas

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.