National recognition for Anders

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Kailey Anders started the week being named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week when league honors were announced Monday. The honors continued Tuesday when she was selected to the Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week. Anders is the first Razorback soccer player to be selected to the publication’s weekly team.

"(Kailey) is a cut-throat, never-give-up defender," head coach Erin Aubry said. "She is very difficult to get around because she is so scrappy. In addition to her defensive qualities, she has the innate ability to attack when she has the chance which we saw with her goal against Michigan."

Anders is one of three defenders named to the Soccer America squad for games played Aug. 21 and 23. She is joined by Georgetown’s Michaela Buonomo and Penn State’s Lexi Marton.

The Allen, Texas, native helped key Arkansas’ shutout victory in its season opener against Michigan. Anders also scored the team’s first goal of the season with a 30-yard shot at the 36:13 mark on a counter attack. Dating back to last season, she has scored a goal in three consecutive matches. Through the first weekend of play, Anders-along with Razorback teammate Chelsea Tidwell-is tied for third in the conference in scoring.

The match against Michigan was Anders’ first as a defender, transitioning from her previous role up top during the 2008 season. She logged 90 minutes in the season-opening win.

Arkansas makes its home debut by hosting the Razorback Adidas Classic beginning Aug. 28 with teams from Air Force, Austin Peay and Missouri State also in action. After the day’s first game, the Razorbacks will take the field at 7 p.m. to take on Air Force. For more information, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week (Aug. 25)GK – Kym Gause, Soph., Cal State Bakersfield; D – KAILEY ANDERS, SOPH., ARKANSAS; Michaela Buonomo, Jr., Georgetown; Lexi Marton, Fr., Penn State; MF – Becky Edwards, Sr., Florida State; Vendula Strnadova, Jr., Memphis; F – Jordan Calhoun, Soph., TCU; Natalie LeClair, Fr., Richmond; Sophia Medina, Sr., Pepperdine; Alex Morgan, Jr., California; Casey Nogueira, Sr., North Carolina