Midweek Report: Week 5
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Each week during the season, the Midweek Report will serve as a recap of the previous week of action for Arkansas Soccer, while previewing the week ahead and keeping up with national rankings and individual accolades.
Week 5 Recap
Arkansas improved to 9-1-0 last week, upsetting then-No. 4 Florida 2-1 on Sept. 16 and defeating Lipscomb 2-1 on Sept. 19 to wrap up its non-conference slate. The victory against the Gators was another monumental program milestone: Not only was it the Razorbacks’ second win over a top-five opponent at home this season, it was also the team’s first result against Florida in 20 years of competition.
Arkansas Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long also celebrated the victory in epic fashion.
The win also maintained the Razorbacks’ position on top of the conference standings. As of Wednesday, Arkansas is in a three-way tie for first place with six points earned, including South Carolina (8-0-1, 2-0-0) and Texas A&M (7-2-0, 2-0-0).
Awards Earned
For her role and performance in the team’s victories against the Gators and Bison, junior defender Jessi Hartzler was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday. She also made TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Team of the Week for the second straight week as well as earning NCAA Soccer Player of the Week honors.
Senior goalkeeper Cameron Carter also garnered league accolades on Monday by earning SEC Defensive Player of Week. Carter tallied eight saves against Florida and limited the high-powered Gator offense to only one goal in the contest. Through 10 games and more than 866 minutes played, her goals allowed average is an impressive 1.00.
Rankings Watch
The Razorbacks were ranked nationally in the top 15 of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll for the first time during head coach Colby Hale’s tenure at Arkansas. The team also vaulted to second place in the NSCAA NCAA Division I Women’s South Regional poll, moving up two spots from last week. Only South Carolina placed higher by taking the top spot in the region.
The NCAA also placed Arkansas No. 13 in the nation in its latest Rating Percentage Index rankings on Monday that take into account the team’s winning percentage and its opponents’ average winning percentage, among other factors.
The RPI plays a role in postseason NCAA Tournament bid selections and hosting opportunities.
In a separate poll, TopDrawerSoccer.com also ranked Arkansas No. 13 in the country.
Looking Ahead: Alabama and Ole Miss
Arkansas will travel on the road this week to face the Crimson Tide (6-2-1, 1-0-1) in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. CT and the Rebels (5-5-0, 0-2-0) in Oxford, Mississippi, on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. CT.
The Alabama match will be streamed live on SEC Network+ via the WatchESPN app while the Ole Miss contest will be Arkansas’ first nationally broadcast match of the season on SEC Network.
Home Support
With six home games in the books, Arkansas ranks 11th in the nation in total attendance (8,077) and fourth in the SEC. In average attendance, Arkansas ranks 18th in the nation (1,346) and fifth in the SEC.
Stats Watch
As of Wednesday, Arkansas is ranked in the top 25 in the following categories by the NCAA: fifth in total goals, sixth in total points, 15th in scoring offense, eighth in total assists, ninth in won-lost-tied percentage, 22nd in assists per game and 13th in points per game.
Individually, senior Claire Kelley is third in the nation in total assists and 10th in assists per game. Senior Alexandra Fischer is also ranked 19th in the nation in total assists.
Freshman Kayla McKeon is ranked 31st in the nation in total goals and junior Jessi Hartzler is 13th in game-winning goals.
Season Tickets
Season tickets are available for purchase through the Razorback Ticket Center at 800-982-HOGS (4647) or online at ArkansasRazorbacks.com. Each season ticket package will include a new 2016 Razorback Soccer scarf.
Single-game tickets are $5 and free for children 17 and under. Gates open one hour prior to kickoff.
For more information about Razorback Soccer, follow @RazorbackSoccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
