Offensive explosion lifts soccer to win

RUSTON, La. – Junior Lindsay Patterson scored a pair of goals for the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team to lead it to a 6-0 win over Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La., on Friday night.

The win improves the Lady Razorbacks to 4-2-0 on the season and gives them their second road win while Louisiana Tech falls to 0-5-0.

“Obviously, I am very pleased with the win,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “I thought that our players moved the ball well on a tight and narrow field. We had some very good transitions into attack which led to some quality goals. I thought that we were able to get our full squad valuable playing time tonight and some of our younger players gained some invaluable experience.”

The Lady Razorbacks produced a goal-scoring flurry over a five-minute span by netting three scores, two off the shin and head of Patterson to knock the wind out of a reeling Bulldog squad. The first goal was set up by freshman Rachel Carlson who dribbled across the field from her outside midfield position clearing a lane to send a pass to sophomore Sophie Wentz. Wentz then controlled the pass and sent a brilliant cross to the far side of the goal just outside the reach of the Louisiana Tech goalkeeper which Patterson was able to head in for the first score at 24:48.

It took less than two minutes for Arkansas to make it a 2-0 game when Kelly O’Conner took the ball away from a Louisiana Tech defender just outside the penalty box. With possession, O’Connor turned and fired on the Bulldog goal and caught the hand of a diving keeper, but her touch wasn’t enough to send the ball wide and it hit the side netting for Arkansas’ second goal.

Continuing to take the action to the Louisiana Tech, Arkansas was on the attack in another two minutes. Moving down the left side of the field it was Carlson who once again dictated the action. Sending a cross to the six-yard box, Carlson found the shin of a streaking Patterson who knocked the ball into the goal for the game’s third score.

Using a completely new lineup in the second 45 minutes, the 11 players on the field for the Lady Razorbacks didn’t matter to the scoreboard. Arkansas put up another three scores over the final half to give it the final margin of victory.

Arkansas’ fourth score came just three minutes into the half when freshman Ally Atkins sent a cross to Whitney Allison. Allison took the pass at the top of the 18 and one touched it around a defender before sending a shot into the bottom corner. Allison’s goal was the first of her career.

It appeared as if the Lady’Backs would have another brilliant five-minute run as Arkansas’ next score came just three minutes later. This time it was Kat Moffett who netted her first of the season. A Louisiana Tech foul was called 22 yards from goal and Moffett set up to take the kick behind a four-person wall. Ignoring the leering defenders, Moffett fired a shot, a la David Beckham, over the wall and under the cross bar giving the Tech goalkeeper no chance at the save.

Arkansas’ final score of the contest would come in the 65th minute when freshman Camille Flores dribbled down the right side of the field and into the penalty area around a Bulldog defender. Clearing herself for a shot, she tucked the ball neatly into the goal for her first career tally.

On the defensive front, Arkansas picked up a team shutout for its fourth blanking of the season. In each of Arkansas’ wins, it has blanked its opponent and has conceded just three scores on the year over six games. Friday’s shut out was a combined effort by freshman Britni Williams and sophomore Jackie Booker. Between the two, they made three saves and faced just seven shots.

The Lady Razorbacks are back in action on Sunday afternoon when they play Centenary in Shreveport, La., at 1:00 p.m. For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.