Soccer challenges continue with #6 Tennessee
FAYETTEVILLE – Coming off what could be described as its most bitter defeat of the season, the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team faces another tough challenge on Sunday afternoon when it faces sixth-ranked Tennessee at Lady’Back Field beginning at 1:00 p.m.
The Lady Razorbacks gave everything they had against 21st-ranked Georgia on Friday night and walked away with a rough 1-0 loss at Lady’Back Field despite dominating the action in the second half. It took timely defensive stops to keep Arkansas off the scoreboard including a pair of brilliant saves.
“Once again, I told our players that they should be sad on Friday night, but have to be prepared for Sunday,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “Every game in the Southeastern Conference is very competitive and going to be very close. If we show the same composure and heart that we showed on Friday, we’ll be all right.”
Tennessee is also coming off a tough loss; it’s to LSU in Baton Rouge. The Lady Vols were blown out 3-0 against the Tigers falling behind 1-0 before the half before conceding a pair of goals in the second. Tennessee’s loss is their first of the season in conference action.
The last time Tennessee came to Arkansas it took an overtime goal before a then 14th-ranked Tennessee squad could leave Fayetteville victorious. In that contest, Arkansas played extremely well and countered numerous Lady Vol attacks, capitalizing on one opportunity and nearly scoring on a pair of others.
For Arkansas to be successful, it will have to break down the invisible wall that kept them off the scoreboard against Georgia on Friday. That game was just the second time this season that Arkansas failed to score the game’s first goal and also the second time Arkansas has been shut out. Early goals have been a key for the Lady Razorbacks all season and would go a long way to if Arkansas is to break out of its funk against Tennessee who has won the past seven meetings.
For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.
