Soccer

Best Of 2016; Memorable SEC Tournament Run

July 28, 2017

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas had already amassed 15 wins by the end of the regular season in 2016, matching its most wins ever in one year. But there was plenty left to achieve, starting with the SEC Tournament to kick off the postseason.

With 21 days until the start of the 2017 season, we’re taking a look back at the record-setting 2016 season that included a school-record 10 wins at Razorback Field, a top-five win over Duke, and the first home NCAA Regional match in program history.

This week, we’re taking a look back at Arkansas’ run through the SEC Tournament in which it won matches against Vanderbilt and Auburn to earn a spot in its first tournament final since 1996.

How It Happened
Arkansas’ eight conference wins leading up to the SEC Tournament were a program record, but after coming out victorious in two of the final five matches, the Razorbacks were needing some extra momentum if it wanted to make noise in the postseason.

First up, it was Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals.

Arkansas defeated the Commodores earlier in the year, 4-0, at Razorback Field, its second-largest margin of victory all season. Even with the good showing, the players and coaches knew the strength of the league was going to showcase itself in the tournament and that Vanderbilt was not going to make it easy the second time around.

The Razorbacks got the battle it expected, but found a way to win on a header from All-SEC player Claire Kelley in the 78th minute. It was Kelley’s eighth score of the season and gave Arkansas its first SEC Tournament win since 2013.

After the match, head coach Colby Hale called the team “winners” and praised the play of Kelley.

“It’s postseason, so at the end of the day, it’s win and advance. This team is a group of winners. They find ways to win. It was a fantastic ball from Sparky (Fischer) and an absolute class finish by Claire.”

VANDERBILT BOX SCORE

Razorbacks Top Vanderbilt To Advance To Semifinals

Next up, it was 11th-ranked Auburn in the semifinals.

It might have been Arkansas’ best performance of the season and it happened when it mattered most.

The Razorbacks fell to the Tigers earlier in the year, as it was part of Auburn’s run through the second half of the season that included wins in nine of its previous 10 matches, helping it finish second in the SEC standings.

Arkansas was ready for another crack at one of the strongest teams in the conference with a spot in the championship game on the line.

It started with a Lindsay Mayo goal in the fifth minute of play, her ninth of the season. Auburn tied it in the first minute of the second half, but then-freshman Kayla McKeon broke the tie in the 74th minute on a penalty kick that gave Arkansas a lead it never relinquished.

Senior Katie Moore added in the insurance goal in the 83rd minute to make it 3-1. It was Moore’s first goal of the season.

“You don’t always get a second chance to get a game back and we made the most of this,” Hale said after the game. “I thought our composure on the ball was very good. Auburn is a very good team. On the day, I thought it was a well-deserved win.”

AUBURN BOX SCORE

Arkansas Heads To SEC Tournament Final With 3-1 Win Over Auburn

The Razorbacks advanced to the SEC Tournament final for the first time since 1996 where they faced No. 15 Florida in a rematch of Arkansas’ thrilling 2-1 victory over the Gators earlier in the year. Unfortunately, Arkansas was unable to capture its first tournament title, but it did not diminish the play of the team from the week.

FLORIDA BOX SCORE

It was Arkansas’ best showing in the SEC Tournament in 20 years and with 17 wins on the year, the team had already surpassed the program best for wins in a season by two.

Arkansas went on to earn a host spot for the first round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament where it would face and beat Memphis, marking the first time it was ever awarded as an NCAA host in program history.

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Season tickets are now on sale for the 2017 season for $25. Each season ticket order will come with one 2017 Razorback Soccer scarf.  Single-game tickets can be purchased for $5 at the Razorback Field box office, which opens one hour before kickoff on game days. Current students can be admitted with their UA ID, and children 17 and under are admitted free.

For more information on Razorback Soccer, follow @RazorbackSoccer on Twitter.

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