Soccer begins spring season

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team began its spring season last Monday afternoon with a two-hour practice beginning at 2:30 p.m. The spring schedule calls for two months of practices, weights and games culminating in an alumni match at Lady’Back Field, April 14.

“This schedule fits nicely into the development of our team,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “We graduated six seniors and five of them started so this spring will allow our young players to show their abilities and impress what they’ve learned on us against some top quality opponents.”

Arkansas’ schedule is set for four days of practice with three days of weight training throughout the week. Five weekends are slated for games beginning on March 3 with a 1:00 p.m. clash with Missouri State. Other games on the slate include a March 10 match with Oklahoma State, a March 31 game at Southern Methodist, an April 1 game at Texas Christian and the Alumni match.

“We are hoping to continue our team’s athletic base,” Henderson said. “Getting stronger and faster is a point of emphasis and are going to be essential to compete. The key is to develop those skills without losing the technical component that we have become known for.”

The spring season also gives Henderson and his staff an opportunity to change things up, especially with 18 freshmen and sophomores slated for the 2007 fall roster.

“This spring we have an opportunity to tweak our style of play,” Henderson said. “I would like to be less reliant on the 4-4-2 formation that we have played. With the depth of the SEC over the past year and the outlook of years to come, I feel that we will be more successful the better we can match up with certain styles of play.”

For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to LADYBACKS.COM.