Author: Philip Seaton

No. 8 Arkansas Women set for Hurricane Invitational

By JEFF SMITH/Arkansas Sports Information

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 8 Arkansas women’s cross country team will travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma this weekend, opening its 2019 season at the Hurricane Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 31.

The season opener will feature the Razorbacks taking on three regional foes including Oklahoma, No. 19 Oklahoma State, and host Tulsa. Arkansas will toe the line for the two-mile race at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Mohawk Soccer Complex. The meet will be scored as a normal team format and not as a dual meet.

The Razorbacks head into the new year ranked No. 1 in the South Central region, and No. 8 in the country, announced by the USTFCCCA earlier this week. A Southeastern Conference poll of the leagues head coaches was released Monday, projected Arkansas to win a seventh-straight title at the 2019 SEC Championships.

The 2018 season concluded with Arkansas capturing an SEC Championship, a first-place finish at the NCAA South Central Regional, and a 14th-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

The Razorbacks return five All-SEC performers in Taylor Werner, Carina Viljoen, Lauren Gregory, Maddy Reed, and 2018 SEC Freshman of the Year Katrina Robinson

For more information on Arkansas track and field, including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.

Razorbacks head to Tulsa for Hurricane Invitational

By JEFF SMITH/Arkansas Sports Information

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 20 Arkansas men’s cross country team will travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma this weekend, opening its 2019 season at the Hurricane Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 31.

The season opener will feature the Razorbacks taking on three regional foes including Oklahoma, No. 7 Oklahoma State, and host No. 29 Tulsa. Arkansas will toe the line for the four-mile race at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Mohawk Soccer Complex. The meet will be scored as a normal team format and not as a dual meet.

The Razorbacks head into the new year ranked No. 1 in the South Central region, and No. 20 in the country, announced by the USTFCCCA earlier this week. A Southeastern Conference poll of the leagues head coaches was released Monday, projected Arkansas to finish third at the 2019 SEC Championships behind Ole Miss and Alabama.

The 2018 season concluded with Arkansas finishing runner-up at the SEC Championship, a first-place finish at the NCAA South Central Regional, and a 25th-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

While the Razorbacks lost Cameron Griffith and Ethan Moehn, who finished third and 14th, respectively, at last year’s SEC meet, Arkansas returns SEC Champion Gilbert Boit, Ryan Murphy and Graham Brown who finished first, ninth, and 17th in Auburn, Ala. last year with two of the three earning All-SEC honors. Arkansas also returns Matt Young, who was an All-Region performer for the Razorbacks at the South Central meet last season.

For more information on Arkansas track and field, including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.

Razorbacks Second after Opening Round at Carmel Cup

August 30, 2019

By MIKE CAWOOD/Arkansas Sports Information

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – The Arkansas men’s golf team opened the 2019-20 season with a 7-under-par round of 353 to stand in second place at the Carmel Cup, played at historic Pebble Beach Golf Links (par 72 – 6,928 yards). Mason Overstreet, who carded a bogey-free round of 68, is tied with teammate Julian Perico for third at 4-under par.

Oklahoma leads the eight-team field with a score of 349, followed by the Razorbacks, Texas Tech (358), Georgia (364), Oklahoma State (365), Mississippi State (370), Vanderbilt (371) and TCU (373). The annual event is different from most collegiate tournaments in that each team in the Carmel Cup has six players with the best five scores counting for each round. Most collegiate events have five players with the best four scores counting.

Perico finished with six birdies, tying for the second-best total of the day. He began the day with two birdies but fell back to even par with bogeys on holes 8 and 9. However, the sophomore bounced back with a birdie on hole 10 while adding birdies on holes 13, 14 and 18 for his 4-under-par 68.

Overstreet opened with a par before reeling off three straight birdies and ultimately posting four birdies over a five-hole span (holes 2, 3, 4 and 6). He would finish his round with 12 straight pars for his 4-under 68. Overall, Overstreet’s 14 pars were the third-best total on the day.

Also recording 14 pars on Friday was William Buhl. The senior is tied for 11th after posting a 71 with to three birdies.

Luis Garza and Tyson Reeder are tied for 21st, each shooting a 1-over 73. Garza did post one of the two eagles on the day, recording a three on the 511-yard, par-5 second hole.

Freshman Mauricio Figueroa made his collegiate debut. While he shot a 79 to stand in a tie for 42nd, he recorded 13 pars to rank fifth-best among the field in round one.

Round two of three will be played Saturday (August 31).

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Golf, follow @RazorbackMGolf on Twitter.

Razorbacks dominate on Opening Day

August 30, 2019

By Jessica Roberson/Arkansas Sports Information

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas volleyball team secured a pair of victories on Friday on the opening day of the Arkansas Classic. The Razorbacks recorded straight set wins over Northwestern State earlier in the day before taking down Little Rock in front of a rocking crowd at Barnhill Arena.

The Razorbacks have one more match this weekend and will face Montana State on Saturday morning. After the Classic, Arkansas will hit the road to the west coast, headed to the SDSU/USD Challenge hosted by San Diego State.

FINAL
Arkansas 3, Northwestern State 0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-18)
Attendance: 304 | Time: 1:16
Barnhill Arena

Quick Hits
Stat Leaders vs Northwestern State
Kills: Liz Pamphile, Jillian Gillen – 9
Digs: Klaire Trainor – 11
Notables
Senior Rachel Rippee led all players with 18 assists.
The Razorbacks led for the entirety of the first and third sets.
Arkansas is now 4-0 all-time against Northwestern State.

Junior Liz Pamphile led the Razorback offense with nine kills to the tune of a .412 hitting percentage against the Demons. Junior Hailey Dirrigl finished with a team high .625 hitting percentage through the first two sets after taking the bench due to an ankle injury.

Freshmen Jillian Gillen and Maggie Cartwright both earned a start against NSU, combining for 15 kills. Gillen also added six digs and three block assists to her collegiate debut. In total, five Hogs saw the court for the first time since arriving at Arkansas, including junior transfer Devyn Wheeler who contributed three kills, and redshirt-freshman Maylin Garret to recorded six kills in 10 attempts.

Arkansas limited Northwestern State to an .084 hitting percentage, thanks in part to an overall team effort on the defensive front. Junior Klaire Trainor led the Hogs with 11 digs, but three others recorded six or more digs in the win: Rachel Rippee (8), Jillian Gillen (6), and Gracie Ryan (6).

FINAL
Arkansas 3, Little Rock 0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-12)
Attendance: 767 | Time: 1:21
Barnhill Arena

Quick Hits
Stat Leaders vs Little Rock
Kills: Jillian Gillen – 13
Digs: Savannah Downing, Maggie Cartwright – 10
Double-Doubles: Maggie Cartwright (10 kills, 10 digs)
Notables
Junior Devyn Wheeler recorded eight kills with a .727 hitting percentage.
Arkansas held Little Rock to a .022 hitting percentage over three sets.

Gillen stayed hot throughout day one of the Arkansas Classic, helping lift the Razorbacks to a sweep of in-state opponent Little Rock. Gillen accounted for 35 of the Hogs’ 100 attacks in the victory, recording 13 kills behind a .286 hitting percentage.

Arkansas saw impressive performances from two other newcomers as well, as Cartwright played a balanced game and recorded the first double-double of the season with 10 kills and 10 digs. Wheeler was the most efficient Hog of the day, and when combined with her .727 hitting percentage, the trio swung a striking .353 at the net.

Pamphile remained reliable on the defensive side of the ball, putting up five blocks for Arkansas. Gillen, Cartwright, and redshirt sophomore Maia Stripp also recorded multiple blocks in the win.

Arkansas controlled the pace of the entire match, never giving up the lead and keeping the Trojans at bay as to never even tie the score again after a 9-9 set score in the first. The Razorbacks led by as many as 15 points in the final set, thanks to a kill by Gillen with an assist from freshman Abbigail McGee.

The Razorbacks will return to Barnhill on Saturday morning for an 11 a.m. match against Montana State (1-1). Admission is free to all fans, parking is limited and fans are encouraged to park in Baum East down Razorback Road and take advantage of the shuttle service. Shuttles will begin to transport fans from Baum East to Barnhill Arena starting at 9 a.m. Saturday morning.

Team Photo: Heber Springs Senior Girls Cross Country

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The XXXX Heber Springs Senior Girls Cross Country Team. Front, from left, Ann Krug, Amy San, Nikki Anderson, Barbara Stoecker Baggett. Back, from left, Elizabeth Krug, Brooke Irwin, Amy Powell, and Rebecca Mays. PHOTO COURTESTY OF WINGARD STUDIOS/COACH JOHNETTE GOLDMAN

Trojans Take Home Opener for First Victory of 2019

August 28, 2019

By Little Rock Sports Information

LITTLE ROCK- Little Rock grabbed their first win of the season in their home opener against Grambling State as Julia Edholm’s 81st minute header gave the Trojans the game-winning goal in their 1-0 victory.

“In the first half we were really nervous,” said Head Coach Mark Foster. “We talked about it at halftime and we gave the girls some solutions to what was going on out there and we played much better. I think it was a win that the girls need for their confidence and once you get that first win everything starts to settle down. We’re really thankful for all the fans that came out tonight, as well as the people for the athletic department and the school who made it a great night.”

Grambling State came out with some lively play from the start, dominating possession in the early minutes. However, the Little Rock defense held strong, allowing just one shot in the first half.

Morgan Smocovich fired two shots from long range, including a driven free kick in the 65th minute, but was denied by the Tigers’ goalkeeper.

Little Rock did well to get back into the game in the second half, winning possession high up the pitch to create solid scoring opportunities.

Mari Young was extremely effective in the attack, starting the match in the striker position. She did well to create space in the attacking third and continually won free kicks near the penalty area.

The game-winning moment came in the 81st minute when the Trojans won a free kick about 35 yards from the goal. Smocovich delivered a wonderful lofted ball near the penalty spot and Edholm rose above the Grambling State defense to flick her header into the back of the net and score the first goal of her Little Rock career.

Julia Curatolo continued her great form between the posts, making one save and earning her second shutout of the season. The redshirt-freshman has now played 245 minutes without allowing a goal.

The Trojans improve to 1-1-1 on the season while they hand Grambling State their first loss of the season as they fall to 2-1 overall.

Little Rock gets back to action Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. when they head to Tulsa, looking for back-to-back wins.

Texas A&M-Texarkana downs Lyon College

August 29, 2019

By Lyon College Sports Information

TEXARKANA, Texas – The Lyon College women’s soccer team fought hard, but ultimately fell to Texas A&M-Texarkana on Thursday by a score of 1-0. The Eagles first half goal proved to be the difference maker in the match.  

Lyon is now 1-1 on the season, while Texas A&M-Texarkana moves to 3-0 on the year. 

GAME FLOW 
In the first half, each side would have opportunities, but it was the Eagles who got on the board first. In the 41st minute, Emily Juarez found Alexandra Martinez who delivered a shot that found the back of the net, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead at the break. The Eagles outshot the Scots 10-1 in the first half.

The Scots sent numbers forward in the second half, looking to knot the game at one. Lyon created chances, but was unable to find the equalizer and ultimately fell to Texas A&M-Texarkana by a score of 1-0 Thursday night.

KEY STATISTICS
– Lyon’s Sarah Evans recorded two shots on goal.
– Lyon goalkeeper, Tabetha Troxler, made a game-high five saves.
– Texas A&M-Texarkana outshot Lyon 17-7. 

WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THE SCOTS
The Scots continue play in the Texas A&M University-Texarkana Tournament on Saturday as Lyon will face Bacone College at noon.

Arkansas State downs Kansas State

August 29, 2019

By ASU Sports Information

Manhattan, Kan. – Despite only taking five shots on the night, the Arkansas State women’s soccer team defeated Big 12 opponent Kansas State 2-1, Thursday evening at Buser Family Park.

Following the win, the Red Wolves improved to 1-1 on the year, while Kansas State fell to 0-2-1.

Naperville, Ill., native, Haley Furio found the back of the net in the 28thminute, her first of the season, giving the Red Wolves a 1-0 lead over the Wildcats. The goal was setup by Junior Sarah Sodoma, who threaded through various Kansas State defenders, then sent the ball off the cross bar which found Furio just inches away from net. 

The Wildcats countered about 10 minutes later, in the 38thminute, off the foot of Hannah Davis as Brooklynn Entz was credited with the assists.

Megan McClure made five saves for the Red Wolves as Kansas State out shot A-State 27-5 on the night. The Scarlet and Black took four shots on goal compared to K-State’s 6 while only committed seven fouls compared to the Wildcats’ nine.

Cape Coral, Fl., native Sophia Restrepo was able to give the Red Wolves a 2-1 advantage in the 60thminute, when she found the back of the net in a wide opened fashion. The unassisted goal marked the first goal of Restrepo’s career.

Arkansas State will return to action Sunday, Sept. 1, in its home opener against Central Arkansas. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the A-State Soccer Park.

Razorback Soccer draws with Minnesota, 1-1

August 29, 2019

By Ben Breitbach/UA Sports Information

OXFORD, Miss. – The Razorback soccer team played to a 1-1 draw on Thursday night against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium on the first night of the Rebel Classic.

How It Happened

>> After a quick 1-2 between Stefani Doyle and Taylor Malham, Anna Podojil turned her defender in the 21st-minute, sending a shot to the right upper corner for her first career goal.

>> Minnesota would get the equalizer after a high ball dropped inside the box before Golden Gopher Sadie Harper would put in the back of the net for Minnesota.

The Run of Play

The Razorbacks turned up the pressure early in the first stanza. Just 35 seconds in, Doyle connected with Malham, who sent a shot just over the cross bar. Arkansas recorded four shots and two corners, including a Tori Cannata header that went off the cross bar, in just the opening seven minutes.

The Razorbacks finally took the lead in the 21st-minute from the boot of Podojil. The Golden Gophers didn’t get off their first shot until the 36th-minute, which was saved by the right post.

Arkansas went into half with the one-goal advantage, leading the Gophers in the shots category, 6-2.

Coming out of the locker room, Minnesota would get their equalizer in the 55th-minute off the foot of Harper.

Looking for another goal, Malham split a pair of defenders to lead Doyle to space, but Gopher ‘keeper Maddie Nielsen made a diving stop to deflect Doyle’s first touch in the 79th-minute, as the teams headed into extra time.

Malham had another excellent opportunity as she got a shot off going across the face of goal that Nielsen could only deflect out of bounds for the Razorback corner. However, Arkansas couldn’t get anything off Parker Goins’ corner kick. Razorback ‘keeper Katie Lund came up big when she was 1-on-1 with Haley Hartkmeyer, making a save and then securing the loose ball in the 97th minute.

The two teams would stay scoreless in the final 10 minutes of extra time as Arkansas and Minnesota settled for a 1-1 tie.

UCA falls to Arizona State in Season Opener

August 26, 2019

BY UCA SPORTS INFORMATION

TEMPE, Arizona – It was a tough night for the University of Central Arkansas women’s soccer team as goals were at a premium in its 7-1 season opener defeat to Arizona State Sunday night from Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. Potentially the toughest game of the season for the Bears, they faced a star studded Arizona State squad that featured six players from their respective national teams, a top honor for any footballer. 

UCA (0-1) took an early 1-0 lead in the ninth minute, but were unable to consistently create chances for the entire duration of the match. The Bears tallied three shots total, putting two on target compared to Arizona State’s 19 shots combined with nine on target.

FIRST HALF

  • Senior striker Connie Awuku-Darkoh gave the Bears a 1-0 advantage inside of nine minutes after capitalizing on a mistake from the Arizona State goalkeeper.
  • Arizona State equalized in the 12th minute and would take a 2-1 lead in the 30th minute. Both ASU goals scored by Nicole Douglas.
  • Arizona State went on to score two more goals before halftime and went into the locker room with a 4-1 advantage.

SECOND HALF

  • Central Arkansas gave up goals in the 48th and 54th minute, ultimately falling down seven goals to one.
  • Freshman Sydney Brough would create the best chance for the Bears in the second half after her 84th minute strike forced a save from the Arizona State keeper.

COACH JEREMY BISHOP QUOTES
“It’s great to be able to get out on the field with an opponent of that caliber and compete with them. To play against a team where at least half of their starting lineup is national team players from all over the world is a great experience, something we can learn and draw experience from. We are ready to get home, get back to work and be ready for our home opener Friday night.”

ON DECK
The Bears will look to bounce back Friday evening as they host Missouri State in their home opener at the Bill Stephens Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.