Soccer Finalizes Fall Schedule

FAYETTEVILLE – University of Arkansas head soccer coach Gordon Henderson finalized his 2005 fall soccer schedule on Tuesday afternoon with 11 games to be played in Fayetteville beginning on Aug. 20, 2005.

Coming off a season in which the Lady Razorbacks enjoyed one of their largest ever average home attendances, Arkansas hopes to build upon its success as it brings a tough schedule to Lady’Back Field in the fall. Beginning with a preseason match against Baylor University, Arkansas’ first regular season home match comes in its fourth match, a Sunday afternoon affair with Oral Roberts University. The ORU match is the first of three consecutive home games which also bring Mississippi Valley State and George Mason to Fayetteville.

“During the non-conference schedule we play some very good teams in Kansas, Oklahoma, George Mason,” Henderson said. “All are teams that are regularly competing for conference titles or in NCAA tournament on consistent basis. Another part that I enjoy is the regional flavor with Tulsa and Oral Roberts, it’s always nice to play local opponents and claim bragging rights. I think that the conference schedule is highlights by our home schedule; we have nationally ranked teams in Tennessee and Florida, and perennial SEC favorite Georgia. Those matches will be a treat for our fans. Overall this is a schedule that is a lot more challenging than it was in 2004 but we are ready to accept the challenge. We will be a much better team.”

Arkansas ends its non-conference action at home against Southeast Louisiana before taking on a challenging Southeastern Conference schedule that sees Mississippi State, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and LSU make return visits to Arkansas’ campus.

Arkansas’ overall schedule should provide the Lady Razorbacks with an even larger task than a year ago as it looks to make a return to the SEC Championships. Five of Arkansas’ 19 regular season matches are against teams that competed in the NCAA tournament a year ago including Kansas, Oral Roberts, Tennessee, Auburn and Florida, while 10 of their challenges are coming off winning seasons while four others were just one game below .500.

The 2005 regular season schedule starts with the Lady Razorbacks on the road in Tulsa, Aug. 26, before they travel down to Norman, Okla., to take on the Oklahoma Sooners on Sunday, Aug. 28. A Friday night match-up with defending Big XII regular season champion Kansas is next on the Lady’Back calendar before opening at home with Oral Roberts. Taking on Mississippi Valley and George Mason the following weekend, Arkansas then goes to Liberty University for a match on Friday, Sept. 16, before returning home for a Sunday skirmish with SE Louisiana.

The SEC schedule begins on the road with Vanderbilt and Kentucky, Sept. 23 and 25 before returning to Fayetteville for four consecutive matches with Mississippi State, Mississippi, SEC Champion Tennessee and Georgia. Three road games follow at SEC Western Division Champion Auburn, Alabama and South Carolina prior to the Lady Razorbacks wrapping up the regular season at home against Florida and LSU.

Orange Beach, Ala., is once again set to host the SEC Championship Tournament, Nov. 3-6 before the NCAA Championships first round matches, Nov. 11. For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas Women’s Athletics, visit www.ladybacks.com.