Soccer Fact Sheet #8

First Conference Win: After an amazing non-conference run, the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks struggled in their first two Southeastern Conference matches, dropping a 1-0 double overtime decision to Vanderbilt, then losing 2-0 at Mississippi. All that changed in Sunday’s match with Mississippi State as the Lady’Backs won their first SEC match, 3-0.
Three Points: Through three matches, the Lady Razorbacks are the owners of three points in the conference standings which currently places them in eighth place overall. The Lady’Backs’ three points tie them with Georgia, Kentucky and Miss. St., but Arkansas gets the tiebreaker based on head-to-head competition and goal differential.
Success Against State: Arkansas’ 3-0 victory over Mississippi State is its 10th career win against the Bulldogs. The Lady Razorbacks are 10-2-0 all-time versus Mississippi State making it the one school that Arkansas has been most successful against over the years.
Back to Scoring Crooked Numbers: The Lady Razorbacks went through a mid-season swoon when it came to goals with just two over its last three matches, but its trip to Starkville brought a welcome return, three goals in a single game. The output was the most Arkansas has put on the scoreboard since its Sept. 3 match with Liberty and the first time Arkansas has scored more than one goal since its game with Louisiana Tech on Sept. 8.
Ending the Skid: With Arkansas’ loss to Mississippi last Friday night, it officially went into its first losing streak of the season, two games. The cure to that cancer is an impressive win which is exactly what Arkansas got in a 3-0 victory on the road in Starkville, Miss.
Trio of Goal Scorers: For the most part this season it has been the Christina Burger show on the offensive front, but not quite at Mississippi State. Burger did drive home Arkansas’ first and eventual game-winning goal, but freshmen Kat Moffett and Sophie Wentz were credited with the second and third strike. Arkansas’ only forward to not score was Lindsay Patterson, but she did get an assist on Burger’s strike.
Third in the League: The Lady Razorbacks’ three scores against Mississippi State moved them into third in the Southeastern Conference for goals scored this season. Arkansas’ 23 goals over 11 matches are five behind the league leader, Florida, and three behind Western Division leader LSU. The Lady’Backs’ 2.09 goals per match ranks second in the conference behind Florida’s 2.33.
Most Since: Arkansas’ eighth win of the season against Mississippi State was a milestone of sorts as it’s the most wins in a season since Arkansas won 11 in 1996. Coincidentally, Arkansas’ 11 wins in ‘96 are also the school record for wins in a season and winning percentage (.595).
First Up: The first/third stop on the Arkansas caravan this weekend is Athens, Ga., where the Lady Razorbacks will take on a solid Georgia Bulldogs squad. The Bulldogs enter the day with a record of 6-5-0, 1-3-0 in Southeastern Conference play, and are reeling from three consecutive losses. After opening the SEC schedule with a win at Mississippi State, Georgia has dropped decisions to Mississippi, Florida and South Carolina and are looking to get things corrected against Arkansas.
Arkansas vs. Georgia: It has been somewhat one-sided when Arkansas takes on Georgia over the years with the Bulldogs winning five of the eight career meetings, but since 2004 the Lady Razorbacks have closed the gap. Arkansas’ lone victory against Georgia came during the 1996 season when they defeated the Bulldogs at the SEC Tournament, 3-1, and since then have managed just a pair of ties. The 2004 season was one of those ties, a scoreless game in Athens followed by a tough 1-0 loss in Fayetteville in 2005.
Last Season: It didn’t take Georgia long to chalk one up on the scoreboard in 2005 as they capitalized on an Arkansas own goal in the second minute, then held on for a 1-0 lead in Fayetteville. Georgia Peppered the Arkansas net with 15 shots, although only seven were on target and Arkansas failed to get much of an offensive presence with just four shots in the contest.
The SEC Standings: Although we are just two weeks into the Southeastern Conference schedule, some interesting developments are beginning to take shape. South Carolina is a surprise leader in the east with its 3-0-1 record and 10 points and LSU is atop the west along with Mississippi with identical 2-0-2 records. Arkansas is currently fourth in the western division with a 1-2-0 record and three points.
To Move On: Over the years, it has typically taken 10 points in the conference standings to qualify for the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala. The Lady’Backs took their first step to that goal with a win against Mississippi State, but with the way the league is beginning to shake out it might take more than 10 to move on. Five teams have begun to separate themselves from the pack with eight or more points in SEC play while six of the remaining seven are within two points of each other.
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers: The class of the Southeastern Conference over the past two seasons, the Tennessee Lady Volunteers have struggled this season in terms of record as they enter the weekend 5-3-3 overall and 1-1-2 in SEC play. Looking a little deeper, one can notice that Tennessee’s schedule is among one of the toughest in the nation which led to their high nation ranking throughout the fall.
Shocking Loss: The Tennessee Lady Vols had a rough opening weekend of Southeastern Conference play as they went to Oxford, Miss., tying the Lady Rebels, 1-1, then went to Starkville, Miss., only to drop a 3-2 decision to the Bulldogs. Tennessee’s loss to Mississippi State was devastating to their national ranking as they tumbled from the top 10 to the bottom of the top 25 and even out of some of the national polls.
The Arkansas-Tennessee Series: It has not been a pretty picture for the Lady Razorbacks in their all-time series with the Tennessee Lady Vols. Arkansas’ lone victory in the series came during the 1996 season in the two squad’s first meeting as the Lady Razorbacks defeated Tennessee, 1-0, in Knoxville. Since then it has been all Tennessee with six consecutive victories.
A Close One in ‘05: The Arkansas-Tennessee match in 2005 was about as close as they come in terms of excitement and game play even if the stats don’t necessarily show the same picture. A 0-0 game until the 72nd minute, Tennessee took the lead on a corner kick, but Arkansas came roaring back 15 minutes later with the clock ticking down when Christina Burger notched her fifth of the season on a header. The contest would go to overtime where Tennessee would end it on a free kick sending the second largest crowd in Arkansas history home disappointed.
Another One Bites the Dust: Last weekend Carrie Dillsaver claimed her fourth Lady Razorback school record when she made the games played record her own. Dillsaver is now the proud owner of Arkansas school records for games played, games started, minutes and wins.
Next: The next record and potentially the last that Dillsaver will break this season is the one for shots faced which could come as early as Friday night. Dillsaver’s 786 shots faced are 12 behind Molly Myers record of 798.
Outside Possibilities: It is pretty certain that Carrie Dillsaver will have five Arkansas records to claim when she leaves, but that number could swell to as many as seven if things go right. Dillsaver has an outside chance at the shutout and goals against average marks. She currently has 16 career shutouts, 1 1/2 behind the record and a career goals against average of 1.50, the record is 1.33.
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:

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.
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.
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.
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.
Another Weekend of Radio: All the Lady Razorback action for the weekend is scheduled to take place on the radio at KXUA 88.3 FM in Fayetteville and on the internet at LADYBACKS.COM. Games begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Noon Sunday.
Two Goals in Three Games: There is no question who Arkansas’ main offensive target is this season and Christina Burger is not disappointing her coaches. She claimed her second Southeastern Conference goal of the season against Mississippi State and is tied for fifth in league for goals in conference action.
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 others to catch. With her seven goals, assist and 17 points this season, Burger is currently 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.
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.
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.
Scoring First: In 11 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 10 of the 11 matches they have played in this season putting pressure on opposing teams to match Arkansas’ efforts.
Playing From Behind: Thanks to its knack for scoring the game’s first goal the Lady Razorbacks have been ahead for most of their playing time this year. In fact, Arkansas has only played 32:46 of 1016 total minutes down by a score.
Assist Leader: Abbey Wilburn’s five 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 five in 11 games. Coupled with her six from last season and the sophomore has 11 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 seven points when you factor in her team-leading five 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.
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).