Soccer Fact Sheet #7

Let’s Play One: The Lady Razorback soccer team played just one match this weekend thanks to thunderstorms that rolled through the area on Friday night. The Arkansas-Kentucky match was postponed to a later date to be determined. Arkansas did play Vanderbilt on Sunday afternoon and lost a heartbreaker in double overtime, 2-1.
Breaking the Streak: Arkansas’ loss to Vanderbilt on Sunday ended a school record seven-match winning streak that dated back to Aug. 27. By far the longest in school history it exceeded three winning streaks of four matches and an unbeaten streak of five games.
Best Start: No matter what happens the rest of the way, the 2006 Lady Razorbacks will be known for at least one thing and that is having the best start in Arkansas’ history. At 7-1-0, the Lady’Backs had exceeded any previous team with the closest being the 1993 squad that went 6-2-0 before losing four straight.
Seven Wins: At seven wins and at least 10 matches to play, the University of Arkansas is poised to exceed its best win total of the past nine seasons and a good run through the Southeastern Conference schedule could give it their best season ever. Arkansas’ seven wins so far already have it tied with the best win totals by any Lady Razorback team dating back to 1996.
On the Road Again: The Lady Razorback have a brutal stretch of schedule heading their way and it begins on Friday night. Arkansas plays its next four matches on the road starting with a Friday night contest at Mississippi and ending on Oct. 8 at Tennessee. Arkansas wants to pick up at least four points over that stretch if it wants to continue to make a run at the SEC Tournament and beyond.
Burger Scores Again: Not wasting any time to get on the scoreboard in Southeastern Conference action, Christina Burger scored Arkansas’ lone goal in its 2-1 loss to Vanderbilt on Sunday. Her score places her among the league leaders in SEC only statistics and places her third in the conference in goals for all games.
Five Straight at Home: Christina Burger’s score against Vanderbilt is her fifth consecutive home match with a goal. Julie Williford was the last to accomplish the task when she tallied goals in four straight home matches during the 2003 season. It is also the longest streak in UA history that we can currently locate going back to 1993.
Five Straight: Christina Burger scored goals in five consecutive games between Southeastern Louisiana and Tulsa to set a Lady Razorback record for consecutive matches with a score. The previous record was four straight by Julie Williford in 2000.
Mississippi: The University of Mississippi has played a very tough schedule this fall and enter Friday night’s match with a 5-4-1 overall record and 1-0-1 SEC mark. Last weekend the Lady Rebels opened SEC play with a tie against eighth-ranked Tennessee, then a huge 3-0 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs. Ole Miss is undefeated in its last three matches.
Arkansas’ Number: It doesn’t matter where the game is played or who the players are it just seems that Mississippi has Arkansas’ number. In 11 career meetings, Ole Miss has come out on top nine times and usually by the slimmest of margins. Aside from a pair of lopsided victories in 2003 and 2004, Arkansas and Ole Miss have played eight one-goal matches with the last coming in the fall of 2005 at Lady’Back Field, a 1-0 Lady Rebel Victory.
The Series: There is no doubt that Mississippi has been the better team over the years as it has amassed an impressive 9-2-0 record against Arkansas since 1995. The Lady Razorbacks took the early lead in the series with a pair of wins, but since then it has been all Ole Miss with nine consecutive victories beginning in 1997. Always close, eight of the 11 career meetings have been one-goal affairs with another decided by two scores.
Last Season: It was a midfield battle for Arkansas and Ole Miss in 2005 as defense ruled the day. A combined 16 shots were taken with only one finding the back of the net, an 18-yard shot by Brittney Potts of Ole Miss. A statistically even match, the lone goal in the 68th minute proved to be the difference maker despite a spirited Lady Razorback effort.
The SEC Standings: With the start of Southeastern Conference play, the SEC standings were jumbled compared to last weekend. Gone are the rankings by winning percentage and in its place is a points system that awards three points to a win and one point to a tie. Based on this, LSU and Ole Miss moved into first in the western division thanks to a win and a tie each for four points. Mississippi State’s upset win over Tennessee gives it three points while the rest of the division failed to win. In the east, South Carolina and Florida each swept their weekend matches with Vanderbilt picking up a win and a tie.
Mississippi State: Coming off perhaps its greatest win in school history, the 2-7-0 Mississippi State Bulldogs should have tremendous momentum going into the second weekend of conference play. Struggling throughout the fall, the Bulldogs stepped up last weekend with a victory over eighth-ranked Tennessee, 3-2 at home.
Success Against the Bulldogs: For all of Arkansas’ troubles against Mississippi, the Lady Razorbacks are the opposite against Mississippi State. Arkansas owns a 9-2-0 advantage against the Bulldogs including a streak of three consecutive wins going back to 2003. Arkansas’ record against Mississippi State is its best record against any Southeastern Conference team.
Record in Starkville: Starkville, Miss., is not an easy place to play. A high crown in the middle of the field, oppressive heat during the day and a raucous crowd for Sunday afternoon matches make for a big home-field advantage. Despite that, Arkansas has been able to amass a 3-2-0 record in Starkville which includes three overtime matches in which the Lady Razorbacks have come out on top twice.
Last Season: Another statistically even match at first glance, Arkansas was certainly the aggressor in last season’s contest with Mississippi State having taken nine shots on goal to the Bulldogs three. Christina Burger scored in the 74th minute of play on a three-yard shot that came off a rebounded strike by Abbey Wilburn and the Lady’Backs came away with a hard fought 1-0 victory.
Last Time in Starkville: Perhaps the greatest goal in senior Katie Hamilton’s career occurred in Starkville, Miss., two years ago. In overtime, then senior Jenni Brashear took a ball down the right side and sent a cross to the far post where Hamilton connected on a diving header for the game-winning strike.
Make it Four: With her 63rd career start against Vanderbilt, Carrie Dillsaver made it four University of Arkansas Lady Razorback career records on the season. The Vanderbilt game matched the efforts of former Lady’Back Molly Myers who accomplished the task between 1989 and 1992.
A Close Call: Without realizing it, Carrie Dillsaver and the Lady Razorback defense nearly broke another school record this season, the one for shutout minutes. Over the course of five matches beginning with Louisiana Tech and ending with Vanderbilt, Arkansas held its opponents off the scoreboard for 357:55, less than four minute shy of the school record of 361:20 set between Nov. 3, 1991 and Sept. 20, 1992.
Defensive Player of the Week: For her efforts in Arkansas’ wins over Tulsa and Memphis, senior goalkeeper Carrie Dillsaver was named the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Week. On the weekend she posted a pair of shutouts, made 11 saves and eclipsed Arkansas’ all-time records for games started and wins. It is Arkansas’ first ever defensive player of the week honor in the four years of the award.
The Eclipsed Records: Carrie Dillsaver now owns four all-time Arkansas records for goalkeepers and more are on the way. Against Northeastern State she surpassed the minutes played record and two weeks ago she tied and then broke the wins and games started marks with her 25th victory and 62nd start.
The Actual Numbers: Some of the records are posted to the left, but for quick reference on each of the Arkansas career numbers, here they are:

Carrie Dillsaver: In 2005, Carrie Dillsaver was considered a senior by her coaches and teammates as she was scheduled to graduate with her nursing degree in May of 2006, despite the fact that she redshirted her true freshman season and was on her third actual season of playing. She indeed received her bachelor’s degree last May, but the call of the soccer pitch was too great for the Claremore, Okla., native and she chose to delay her professional career by six months in order to play her final season of eligibility with the Lady Razorbacks.
Lady Razorback Classic All-Tournament Team: Four Lady Razorbacks were named to the Lady Razorback Classic All-Tournament Team over the weekend. Christina Burger was the MVP of the weekend and was joined by Carrie Dillsaver, Devon Burger and Abbey Wilburn on the squad.
KXUA Radio: For the first time this season, Arkansas’ soccer matches are going to be broadcast live in Fayetteville on KXUA, 88.3 FM. 2006 marks the seventh season of soccer radio at the University of Arkansas.
Internet As Well: For those that can’t tune in to the KXUA broadcast, fans will also be able to hear the same call on LADYBACKS.COM, Arkansas’ home on the web. The internet feed will be broadcast live.
Tournament MVP: Thanks to her efforts in Arkansas’ wins over the weekend, Christina Burger was named the Lady Razorback Classic’s most valuable player and a member of the all-tournament team.
Moving up the Career Charts: It may be impossible for Christina Burger to catch Julie Williford and break Arkansas’ all-time school records for goals and points, but the Southlake, Texas, native is certainly placing her name high on the books for other to catch. With her five goals, assist and 13 points this season, Burger is currently tied for fourth on the goals scored charts, fifth on the points list and tied for fourth on the game-winning goals top 10.
Second-Team All-SEC: Christina Burger’s 2005 season, in which she was third in the SEC in goals scored, allowed her to be named second-team all-SEC, her first conference honor and just the 10th in Lady Razorback history.
Scoring First: In eight matches this season, Arkansas has been the aggressor and to prove it, you only have to look at one stat, first goals. The Lady Razorbacks have scored the first goal in each match they have played in this season putting pressure on opposing teams to match Arkansas’ efforts.
Playing From Behind: Thanks to its eight consecutive matches with the game’s first score, the Lady Razorbacks have been ahead for most of their playing time this year. In fact, Arkansas has only played 6:23 of 836 total minutes down by a score.
Assist Leader: Abbey Wilburn’s four assists on the year are tops on the 2006 Lady Razorback roster and are among the league leaders as well. She is second in the Southeastern Conference assists, three behind the leader, Chrissy Strini of Mississippi.
Approaching the Top 10: Abbey Wilburn has been an assist machine this fall with four in nine games. Coupled with her six from last season and the sophomore has 10 for her career and is quickly approaching Arkansas’ all-time top 10. Tenth on the list is a three-way tie with 12 career assists.
Wilburn Number Two: Abbey Wilburn scored her first goal of the 2006 season in Arkansas’ 2-1 win over Louisiana Tech. The effort moved her into second on Arkansas’ scoring chart for the season with six points when you factor in her team-leading four assists.
First Game Winner: Abbey Wilburn’s goal against Louisiana Tech was the first game-winning strike of her career. In fact it was just her second career goal.
Schleif Moves into Second Place Tie: With her game-winning goal against Memphis, freshman Kim Schleif moved into a tie for second on the Lady Razorback roster for points scored this season. So far she has three goals for six points and her strike against Memphis was her first game-winner.
The New Class: To say that Arkansas’ 2006 freshman class is shaking things up would probably not be much of an overstatement. Five new Lady Razorbacks started in the Oral Roberts exhibition match and eight of the 10 played, two missed the match to injury. Since that game, at least three freshmen have been in the starting lineup and five were in the season opener against Missouri State.
Injuries: Following a rash of injuries to start the season, the Lady Razorbacks appear to be in much better health than they were just a few weeks ago. Those that continue to be sidelined include Megan Fawley (foot), Katie Stauffer (back) and Sarah Finn (knee).