Midweek Report: Week 3
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Each week during the season, the Midweek Report will serve as a recap of the previous week of action for Arkansas Soccer, while previewing the week ahead and keeping up with national rankings and individual accolades.
Week 3 Recap
Arkansas split its matchup results during the past week, defeating Northern Iowa 7-1 at home on Sept. 1 and falling to George Washington 1-0 on the road in Washington DC on Sept. 4. The loss to the Colonials was the Razorbacks’ first defeat of the season, dropping the team to 5-1-0 on the year.
However, the victory over the Panthers was an outpouring of offensive firepower unrivaled since 2008 – the last time a Razorback soccer team scored seven goals was eight years ago when Arkansas defeated Nicholls State 7-0 at the Razorback Invitational.
Both matches against Northern Iowa and George Washington represented the first time Arkansas has competed against either school.
The five-game win streak was the Razorbacks’ second-best start in program history and their third longest overall win streak. In 2013, Arkansas won seven in a row to start the season and the longest overall win streak record stands at eight games, accomplished in 2008.
Rankings
Arkansas retained its top 25 national standing heading into Week 4 as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America ranked the Razorbacks as the No. 25 team in the nation. In a separate poll, Soccer America listed Arkansas at No. 22.
Looking Ahead: Mississippi State
The Razorbacks will go on the road this Friday to face off against Mississippi State in Starkville, Mississippi, on Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. CST. The Bulldogs are 4-2-0 on the season and are riding a three-game win streak.
Junior goalkeeper Tanya de Souza was named the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 6 for her nine-save performance in Mississippi State’s double overtime win against South Alabama on Friday.
Arkansas is 18-3-0 overall against Mississippi State, including a 3-1-0 mark during head coach Colby Hale’s tenure.
The match will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
Looking Ahead: North Texas
Arkansas will host North Texas for the first time on Sunday, Sept. 11 at Razorback Field at 6 p.m. The match will be the third time the Razorbacks have faced the Mean Green (4-1-1). The previous two contests took place during Arkansas’ inaugural season in 1986 and in 1997 at Denton, Texas.
North Texas is the defending Conference USA champion and was selected during the preseason by C-USA coaches as the favorite to repeat as league champs in 2016. The Mean Green earned an NCAA Tournament bid last season and fell 1-0 to Texas Tech in the first round.
North Texas is led by two-time (2013, 2015) C-USA Player of the Year Rachel Holden. The senior forward was credited with 12 goals last season, including a league-best six game winners.
The match will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
Home Support
With three home games in the books, Arkansas ranks 14th in the nation in total attendance (4,913) and third in the SEC, but ninth in average attendance (1,638) nationally and third in the SEC.
Stats Watch
As of Tuesday, Arkansas is ranked in the top 25 in the following categories by the NCAA: 17th in the nation in scoring offense, 23rd in won-lost-tied percentage, 16th in assists per game, ninth in total assists, 12th in total goals, 17th in points per game and 12th in total points.
Individually, senior forward Alexandra Fischer is ranked 13th in total assists (4) and 29th in assists per game. Freshmen Kayla McKeon and Stefani Doyle are each tied at 34th in the nation in total goals (4), while Doyle is 35th in total points (10). McKeon is also ranked 14th in game-winning goals (2).
Season Tickets
Season tickets are available for purchase through the Razorback Ticket Center at 800-982-HOGS (4647) or online at ArkansasRazorbacks.com. Each season ticket package will include a new 2016 Razorback Soccer scarf.
Single-game tickets are $5 and free for children 17 and under. Gates open one hour prior to kickoff.
For more information about Razorback Soccer, follow @RazorbackSoccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
