Soccer picked fourth in the west

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team was picked to finish fourth in the Southeastern Conference’s Western Division by the league coaches it was announced on Tuesday by the league office in Birmingham, Ala.

The Lady Razorbacks tallied 32 points in the poll, well ahead of Alabama (18) and Mississippi State (14) who finished fifth and sixth in the poll’s rankings. The Lady’Backs were 12 points behind LSU for third in the west.

“If you look at our history in the SEC and where we were last year in the standings, I think that this is where I would have voted for us,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “I think that from top to bottom, the SEC will see even more parity than it did last year. Last season it got to the point where a goal or overtime score here and there made a huge difference in the standings. I believe that the conference is now 12 teams deep instead of five or six quality teams and that it will take a minimum of five wins to qualify for the SEC Tournament.”

Last season Arkansas finished its conference schedule with a 3-6-2 record and scored 11 points, a total that had generally qualified for the SEC Championships. Instead, Arkansas was on the outside looking in as LSU locked up the eighth spot by defeating the Lady Razorbacks in Baton Rouge and securing 15 points to tie with Georgia for seventh in the conference rankings.

This season, Arkansas has its hands full as it looks to replace five starters including its goalkeeper and leading scorer. A solid recruiting class and a great group of returning players has the Arkansas coaching staff looking forward to the start of the season which begins next Friday night, Aug. 31, when the Lady Razorbacks host Tulsa at Lady’Back Field beginning at 7:00 p.m.

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