Best start ever for Lady'Back soccer
FAYETTEVILLE – Senior Christina Burger scored her second goal in as many games for the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team to lead Arkansas to its best start in school history with a 1-0 victory over Alabama A&M University at Lady’Back Field on Sunday afternoon.
Arkansas win moves the Lady Razorbacks to 5-1-0, its best start in the 21 years of the program and its current five match winning streak is also a team record. Alabama A&M falls to 3-3-0 with the loss.
“You can’t do much better than getting a win and a shutout,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “As young as we are you will certainly have those types of games where you struggle to score goals. We made our lives much harder by missing on some of our opportunities, but the bottom line is that we got the win.”
Burger connected from 16 yards in the 32nd minute to produce the game’s lone score. Taking possession of the ball just past the top of the penalty area, Burger put a pair of nifty moves on her Alabama A&M defender to open a shooting lane which she took full advantage of and placed a shot into the right side of the net.
Burger’s score is her fourth of the year and second game-winning strike, both lead the Lady Razorbacks.
A hard fought game throughout the midfield, Arkansas did own a decided statistical advantage throughout the contest taking 15 shots to the Bulldogs six. Most of the Alabama A&M chances came late in the contest with numbers pushed forward, including one opportunity that nearly tied the match in the 53rd minute. An Arkansas foul call 25 yards from goal was lined up by the Bulldogs Rachel Sepeng. Her direct kick pinged off the crossbar and bounced straight down allowing teammate LaTisha Davis to get a toe on the ball, but a quick reaction from Arkansas senior Carrie Dillsaver smothered the second shot and preserved the slim Lady Razorback lead.
For the match, Dillsaver made only three saves including the scary moment in the 53rd minute, but her victory and shutout moved her even closer to Arkansas’ all-time records in both categories. After breaking the Arkansas record for minutes played by a goalkeeper on Friday night, Dillsaver picked up her 23rd career win on Sunday to sit one behind former Lady’Backs Molly Myers and Kerri Reifel for the all-time lead and her 60th game started is also just one behind Myers’ mark.
For their efforts on the field, four Lady Razorbacks were named to the Lady Razorback Classic all-tournament squad, Burger, her sister Devon Burger, Dillsaver and sophomore Abbey Wilburn. Christina Burger was also named the tournament MVP thanks in part to her two goals.
The Lady Razorbacks look for their sixth straight victory on Friday night when they travel to Tulsa, Okla., to take on the University of Tulsa at 7:00 p.m. For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to LADYBACKS.COM.
