Soccer looks to cage Wildcats

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Following a tough weekend of play and injuries, the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team looks to rebound on Friday night when it takes on the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington, Ky., beginning at 7:00 p.m. central.

The Lady Razorbacks are playing for the postseason as they play their third consecutive road contest, while the Wildcats enter the game seeking their first Southeastern Conference win.

“This weekend is about getting valuable points,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “I think that both games this weekend will be very even. Injuries are something that every team has to deal with. Our injuries have forced us to make some changes, but the bottom line is I couldn’t be more proud of what this team has accomplished.”

Arkansas has had tough luck at Kentucky over the years, losing each of their last three matches in Lexington by one goal. One game came down to the final 10 seconds of regulation before Kentucky netted the game winner while another went into overtime before the Wildcats scored the game-winning strike on a controversial non-call. The close calls by the Lady Razorbacks give them confidence as they enter the crucial contest.

One of the keys to an Arkansas victory will be its ability to score goals. Opening the season with early strikes in nearly all of its contests, the Lady Razorbacks have not scored a goal in more than 180 minutes of play and are looking for their forwards to put them on the scoreboard. Injuries have hurt Arkansas’ front line players, but junior Lindsay Patterson has proven over the last year and a half that she is a force on the front line and could be the X-factor Arkansas will rely on to get ahead.

Kentucky has had a rough time this fall losing their last six games, all SEC matches. After opening the year undefeated in non-conference play, the Wildcats have struggled to score over the past three weekends and the result has been a 0-6-0 record. In fact, Kentucky has not scored a goal in four straight matches.

For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.