Arkansas Begins SEC Play At Georgia On Thursday
ATHENS, Ga. – The Arkansas soccer team begins conference play on the road tomorrow night when it takes on Georgia at 6 p.m. at the Turner Soccer Complex and is looking to extend its’ three-match winning streak. Thursday’s match will be the first time Arkansas has opened the conference season against Georgia since 1996.
Match Eight Info
Opponent: Georgia Bulldogs (3-3-2)
Date: Thursday, Sept. 13
First Kick: 6 p.m. CT
Live Stats: GeorgiaDogs.com
TV: SEC Network+
Arkansas (5-1-1) is on a three-match winning streak after dispatching Florida Atlantic and UConn last week. The offensive output has erupted as Arkansas has scored two or more times in five-consecutive matches. The Razorbacks are currently eighth in the SEC in scoring (15 goals) going into opening weekend.
Sophomore Parker Goins, who leads the team in points (8) and assists (4) was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after scoring a goal in both matches last week and has tallied at least one point in five consecutive matches.
The defense has held court as well, holding opponents to an average of one goal this season, including two clean sheets and a draw with No. 9 West Virginia. Last weekend the Razorbacks only gave up two corner kicks combined and haven’t allowed a second-half goal since Aug. 26 against McNeese State.
Goalkeepers Taylor Beitz and Alexis Bach both earned their first wins of their careers last week. Bach had two saves in 45 minutes against FAU made her first career start against UConn. Beitz played a clean 45 minutes in the second half against UConn, facing seven shots and making one save.
Quick Kicks
>> Arkansas opens the conference portion of its 2018 schedule on Thursday when it travels to Athens, Georgia to take on the Georgia Bulldogs. This is the first time the Razorbacks will open the SEC schedule against Georgia since 1996.
>> The Razorbacks will return home at the end of the weekend for its final non-conference match, as they will face Providence on Sunday. This will be the second-straight year Arkansas will face Providence (L, 4-3 in Providence, R.I.)
>> Arkansas is 11-13-1 in SEC openers dating back to 1993, its’ first season in the conference. Under head coach Colby Hale, the Razorbacks are 3-3 in SEC openers.
>> Arkansas continued its strong play at home last week, defeating Florida Atlantic (3-1) and UConn (3-1) to move to 4-0-0 at Razorback Field this year.
>> Sophomore Parker Goins was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week after totaling five points in the last two matches, including a goal each against FAU and UConn. Arkansas has had a player named to a weekly award in three of the first four weeks to the season.
>> Goins has recorded a point in five-consecutive matches, including an assist in four of the last five matches. She’s one of three players in the SEC with a current point streak of five or more matches (Bri Folds and Ally Watt).
>> Against Florida Atlantic, Goins scored a goal and was credited with an assist in the same game for the first time in her career. She currently leads the team in assists (4) and points (8).
>> Out of its 15 goals scored this season, Arkansas has scored 10 in the second half. Parker Goins, Kayla McKeon, Tori Cannata and Marissa Kinsey each have two goals in the second half this season.
>> Last week, Arkansas was awarded a combined 25 corner kicks, including 18 against FAU. The Razorbacks are 5-1-0 this year when taking seven or more corners.
>> Parker Goins earned Arkansas’ first penalty kick of the 2018 season last week against UConn. She converted the attempt, the first of her career. Arkansas only took two PK’s in 2017, converting one (Nayeli Perez).
>> Two of Arkansas’ six goals last week came off of corner kicks. The Razorbacks now have three goals off of corner kicks this year. Arkansas leads the SEC in corner attempts (61) this year.
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