Razorback soccer hosts SFA

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – For the first time since the 1996 season, the University of Arkansas soccer team will take on Stephen F. Austin in a match scheduled for Sept. 13 at Razorback Field. The contest is set for a 1 p.m. start and will be Arkansas’ final non-conference home match.

Arkansas leads the all-time series with SFA, 1-0-0, with the only meeting between the two teams coming 13 years ago. The Razorbacks came away with a 9-0 win in that matchup. The two teams were scheduled to meet last season in Nacogdoches, Texas, but the match was cancelled due to forecasted effects of Hurricane Ike.Coming off a 3-0 victory over Oral Roberts in its last outing, Arkansas (4-0-1) is off to its best five-match start in program history. The Razorbacks’ attacking style has led to an 11-2 advantage on the scoreboard and an 83-34 advantage in shots through five matches. The offense has been spread throughout the team as 10 Razorbacks have scored at least one goal. Sophie Wentz leads the team with two scores.Wentz and Laurel Pastor are tied for the team lead with five points. Pastor leads Arkansas and is tied for second in Southeastern Conference with three assists. In the club’s 3-0 win over Oral Roberts, Pastor became the first Razorback this season to record a goal and an assist in the same game.In a sign of the team’s depth, five of Arkansas’ 11 goals scored this year have come from players in their first season in the Cardinal and White. Head coach Erin Aubry has seen at least 19 players see the field in each of the Razorbacks first five matches of the season. Eighteen different players have made at least one start with only defenders Kailey Anders, Lauren Hallauer, Kelly O’Connor and Kim Schleif having started each match.Behind that backline, goalkeeper Britni Williams has totaled three shutouts and carries a 0.42 goals against average through five contests. She has allowed just two goals-both against Air Force-and has made 12 saves this season. With three shutouts this year, Williams has lifted her career total to 16, good for third place on Arkansas’ all-time shutout list behind leader Molly Myers (17.5) and Carrie Dillsaver (17).Stephen F. Austin (1-3-0) will play Missouri State before heading to Fayetteville for Sunday’s matchup against the Razorbacks. In their previous outing, the Ladyjacks lost a 3-2 decision to Rice in overtime. The Ladyjacks are led in scoring by freshman midfielder Kylie Louw with five points (1 G, 3 A). Megan Cash, Kim Kimmel and Breanne Vernon each have two goals for SFA this season. In goal, junior Courtney Bauder has allowed 11 goals through four matches, good for a 2.75 goals against average. Cash is SFA’s lone returning all-conference player from last season as she was named to the Southland Conference honorable mention team.In celebration of Youth Soccer Month (YSM), all kids that wear their soccer jersey to the match will receive $1 general admission. Fans in attendance can enjoy water bottle, YSM fan and YSM t-shirt giveaways. The Arkansas State Soccer Association and Big Red will also be in attendance Sunday for participation in the Kids Zone.Following the match, the Razorback soccer team will host a free Youth Soccer Month clinic for all kids in attendance that are in the eighth grade and below. The Arkansas State Soccer Association will provide t-shirts to kids participating in the clinic. For more information about in-game promotions and Razorback soccer, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Download: 2009 game notes_sfa.pdf