Soccer opens conference play in Nashville

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team begins Southeastern Conference play on Friday night when it takes on the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville, Tenn., at 7:00 p.m.

The Lady Razorbacks enter the match with a 3-4-0 overall record and are coming off a 2-0 Sunday afternoon win against Southeastern Louisiana in which junior Christina Burger scored both Arkansas goals. Vanderbilt has been on fire the entire season and currently lead a tough SEC Eastern Division with a 7-1-0 record and after an opening day loss at Colorado have rattled off seven straight wins, including six by shutout.

“I am excited,” Arkansas head soccer coach Gordon Henderson said. “I think that this will be a well played game by both sides and Vanderbilt will certainly try to get the jump on us. They are my dark horse to win the SEC title so I realize that this will be a tough game, but I am confident in our abilities.”

Arkansas’ Friday night match marks the Lady Razorback’s 2005 radio debut as the game airs on KXUA, 88.3 FM, for the seventh consecutive season. KXUA has broadcast each of Arkansas’ SEC road matches since 1999 including the Lady Razorback’s last game in Nashville, a 2-0 victory in 2003, where former Lady Razorback Julie Williford broke Arkansas’ all-time scoring record.

Over the past three seasons Arkansas has had the Commodores number as they have picked up three consecutive victories including one in Nashville. Last year the Lady Razorbacks handed Vanderbilt a hard-to-swallow 2-1 defeat at Lady’Back Field when sophomore Sarah Gwisdala hit a shot late to secure the victory. The loss was even worse for the Commodores considering that the first goal they conceded was an own goal.

Arkansas and Vanderbilt have a rich history over the past 19 years as they have met 17 times in both non-conference, conference, regular season and tournament action. Vanderbilt used to hold a commanding lead, but a trifecta of Lady Razorback victories has brought the Lady Razorbacks storming back to with a few games of Vanderbilt’s win total.

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