NCAA Tournament | @RazorbackSoccer Set For First Round Matchup At Oklahoma

NCAA Tournament Bracket (Interactive)

NORMAN, Okla. – The Arkansas women’s soccer team will open the 2014 NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 14 with a first round matchup with the Sooners of Oklahoma at John Crain Field in Norman, Okla. The contest is set to kickoff at 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed online via SoonerSports.TV.

GAME INFORMATION

GAME

Arkansas (8-6-6, 4-3-3 SEC) at Oklahoma (10-8-4, 3-4-1 Big 12)

DATE/TIME

Nov. 14, 2014 | 7 p.m. CT

VENUE

John Crain Field | Norman, Okla.

LIVE VIDEO

SoonerSports.TV

LIVE STATS

SoonerSports.com

TICKETS

SoonerSports.com

LAST MEETING

Aug. 28, 2005 | OU 3, Arkansas 0

SOCIAL

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UP NEXT
The winner of Friday’s contest will advance to the second round of tournament play, facing the winner of Stanford and Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 21 or 23.

@RAZORBACKSOCCER AND THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Arkansas women’s soccer team nervously watched as 61 schools were announced during Monday’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show before finding out its postseason fate. Ultimately, the Razorbacks were selected for a first round matchup against Big 12 foe Oklahoma.

With its selection on Monday, Arkansas (8-6-6) captured its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance, as they will battle a Sooner State opponent in the first round for the second consecutive season. Last year, the Razorbacks defeated Oklahoma State, 2-1, in Stillwater, Okla., to spark a Sweet 16 run in the program’s NCAA Tournament debut.

Head coach Colby Hale’s rigorous 2014 schedule ultimately paid off, as his team was able to pick up eight results against teams inside the RPI top 70, to give his team an RPI of 52. Arkansas played against 11 of the 64 teams announced in this afternoon’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show, while the Southeastern Conference had seven other schools representing them in the Tournament.

The Razorbacks finished the regular season with an 8-6-6 mark, giving the program its first back-to-back winning season since the 2008, 2009 seasons. Arkansas finished an even 4-4-3 in SEC play, marking the first time the team posted a non-losing record in conference play since the 2012 campaign.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | OKLAHOMA

  • Oklahoma (10-8-4), earned an at-large bid after spectacular run in the Big 12 Tournament, which saw the No. 6-seeded Sooners make a run all the way to the conference championship. OU picked up five wins against top 25 teams this season and will be playing in the program’s third NCAA Tournament and its first since the 2010 campaign.
  • Oklahoma’s appearance in the 2014 NCAA Soccer Championship field marks the program’s third all-time and first under head coach Matt Potter. The Sooners previously advanced to the field of 64 in 2003 (at Tennessee) and in 2010 (at Washington).
  • OU will seek the program’s first-ever tourney win on Friday night against Arkansas at it hosts the first NCAA match ever at John Crain Field in Norman.
  • OU has played solid defense this season, which has led to their resurgence in 2014.1
    • Oklahoma is 10-3-4 this season when surrendering one or fewer goals in a match.
    • The Sooners have allowed the program’s second-fewest goals in a single season this year (21) while posting a program-best goals-against average of 0.85 through 22 matches.
    • The squad’s eight total shutouts this season are one shy of the OU single season record as well.

LAST TIME OUT: @RAZORBACKSOCCER VS. GEORGIA (11.3.14)

  • Sophomore Erika Miller’s equalizer in the 89th minute sparked hope for the No. 9-seeded Arkansas women’s soccer team in the first round of SEC Tournament, but things would change for the Razorbacks in penalty kicks, as No. 8 seed Georgia netted four attempts to Arkansas’ three, knocking the Razorbacks out of the tournament.
  • With Georgia clinging to a 1-0 lead late in the second half, Arkansas was looking for any chance at an equalizer. With the defense pushed up, the Razorbacks sent a cross into the box that was deflected out by the Bulldogs, landing in open space outside of the 18-yard box.  Miller came charging towards the ball and blasted a shot from roughly 25 yards out only to find upper right hand corner of the goal to send the game into extra time.
  • Miller was an unlikely hero for the Razorbacks, as the defender had previously recorded just one goal in her two-year career coming into tonight. That goal came in a 6-1 blowout win over Missouri State earlier this season (Sept. 14).
  • Neither team had a solid opportunity at a goal in either overtime period, as the game moved into penalty kicks. It was the second time in head coach Colby Hale’s tenure at Arkansas that his team has moved into the PK stage, previously losing to Duke in the Sweet 16 of last year’s NCAA Tournament.
  • Coach Hale’s second go-around in this stage would unfortunately yield the same result, as Georgia brought in redshirt freshman goalkeeper Morgan Orobello, who was making her first collegiate appearance, off the bench to handle the PK’s. Orobello made an instant impact, blocking a two of the first three Razorback attempts, as the Bulldogs made all but one of their penalty kicks to win the shootout 4-3 and advance
  • Georgia held a slight edge in shots 15-14, including a 5-4 edge in shots on goal.

@RAZORBACKSOCCER TEAM NOTES

  • Arkansas’ record in the Colby Hale era is 32-24-6.
  • This year’s NCAA Tournament bid marks the second straight appearance for the Razorbacks.
  • Hale has led Arkansas to their only NCAA appearances. (2013, 2014).
  • The Razorbacks are 2-1 all-time in NCAA Tournament games, defeating both Oklahoma State (2-1) and St. John’s (1-0) before losing at Duke (2-2; 4-3 PK) in the Sweet 16 in last year’s tournament.
  • The Razorbacks return five of their six players who recorded a point in last year’s NCAA Tournament.
  • Arkansas is 1-0 in NCAA Tournament games against the Big 12 conference.
  • The Razorbacks are 1-1 in true NCAA Tournament road contests.
  • Arkansas is 2-2-4 in true road games this season.
  • Under Hale, Arkansas is 9-11-3 in true road games.
  • Arkansas went 1-0-1 against Big 12 teams this season, defeating Oklahoma State (2-1) in Fayetteville and tying Texas (0-0) in Austin.

NATIONAL POLLS

  • Arkansas did not receive votes in either of last week’s Top 25 Polls.
    • Click HERE to view this week’s NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Poll.
    • Click HERE to view this week’s TopDrawerSoccer.com Division I Top 25 Poll.
  • Arkansas was ranked No. 9 for the third consecutive week in the NSCAA NCAA Division I – South Poll, behind Texas A&M, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Missouri, Auburn, Georgia and South Alabama.
    • Click HERE to view this week’s NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I – South Poll.

NATIONAL RANKINGS (THRU GAMES 11.9.14)

  • The Razorbacks are ranked in the top 100 in five categories:
    • Total Assists – 40th
    • Assists Per Game – 43rd
    • Total Points – 71st
    • Points Per Game – 71st
    • Total Goals – 94th
  • Ashleigh Ellenwood, Claire Kelley and Cameron Carter are each ranked in the top 100 in at least one individual statistic.
    • Ellenwood is ranked 8th in total assists (leads SEC) and 9th in assists per game (leads SEC) and 99th in total points.
    • Kelley is ranked 80th in total assists.
    • Carter is ranked 10th in goalie minutes played and 70th in total saves.

NCAA RPI
The latest RPI rankings of the 2014 season was released Monday afternoon (Nov. 10) on NCAA.com (games played thru Nov. 10). The Razorbacks fell 16 spots from last week and are ranked No. 52.

  • Click HERE to view this week’s NCAA Division I Women’s RPI.

@RAZORBACKSOCCER PLAYER NOTES

Junior Ashleigh Ellenwood

  • Collected three points (1 goal, 1 assist) in three career NCAA Tournament games.
  • Scored a goal and handed out an assist in the Sweet 16 loss to Duke in last year’s tournament.
  • Set the school’s single-season assists record this season with 13.
  • Holds the school’s single-season record in both assists (13; 2014) and game-winning goals (6; 2014).
  • Leads the team in points with 23 (5 goals, 13 assists). It is the third straight season she has led the team in points.
  • Currently second on the school’s all-time assists list with 21, just five behind record-holder Holly Collins who handed out 26 assists from 1997-01.
  • Her 71 career points puts her fourth on the school’s all-time points list.
  • Tied for fifth on the school’s all-time goals list with 25.
  • Ellenwood has picked up a few postseason awards so far this postseason. She’s been named to the College Sports Madness All-SEC first team, the College Sports Madness All-American Third Team and the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District 6 First Team.
    • Click HERE to view the CSM All-SEC teams.
    • Click HERE to view the CSM All-American teams

Senior Tyler Allen

  • Collected two points (1 goal) in three career NCAA Tournament games.
  • Scored the game-winning goal in last year’s 2-1 first round win at Oklahoma State.
  • Holds the school’s all-time record in games played with 81.
  • Will be serving a one-game suspension after receiving two yellow cards in the SEC Tournament First Round game vs. Georgia.
  • Tied for third on the school’s all-time assists list with 17.
  • Scored three goals and handed out six assists this year.

Sophomore Cameron Carter

  • Holds a 2-0-1 record in three career NCAA Tournament games.
  • Posted 18 saves in three games during last year’s tournament run.
  • Collected a shutout in last year’s second round victory over St. John’s.
  • Saved 12 shots in the Sweet 16 games at Duke.
  • Collected six shutouts in 20 games this season.
  • Played 1,958.33 minutes this season, which is the second-highest total for a single season.
  • Posted 91 saves and allowed 25 goals.
  • Holds the school’s single-season record in wins (14), games started (23), games played (23) and minutes played (2,141.74), all set during the 2013 season.

Sophomore Claire Kelley

  • Collected three points (1 goal, 1 assist) in three career NCAA Tournament games.
  • Handed out an assist in last year’s 2-1 first round win at Oklahoma State.
  • Scored the game-winning goal in last year’s 1-0 second round victory vs. St. John’s.
  • Second on the team in points (17) and assists (6). Tied for second on the team in goals with five.

Sophomore Alexandra Fischer

  • Scored a goal in three career NCAA Tournament games.
  • Posted her lone NCAA Tournament goal in the Sweet 16 loss at Duke.
  • Leads the team in goals this season with six.
  • Scored the game-winning goal in the 3-1 season-opening victory over Utah State.

Junior Lindsey Mayo

  • Scored a goal in three career NCAA Tournament games.
  • Posted her lone NCAA Tournament goal in the 2-1 first round win at Oklahoma State.
  • Posted seven points this season (3 goals, 1 assist)
  • Scored the game-winning goal in the 3-0 victory at Mississippi State.

@SEC COMMUNITY SERVICE TEAM
The SEC sponsors Community Service Teams for all 21 league sponsored sports. The Community Service Team looks to highlight an athlete from each school who gives back to their community in superior service efforts. The 11th annual women’s soccer Community Service Team was announced on Thursday, Nov. 13 and Margaret Power earned a spot.

Margaret Power, Arkansas
Redshirt Junior Margaret Power has been an active member in the Fayetteville community throughout her career. Power not only helps out with Arkansas’ soccer clinics and camps, but she is a volunteer for ‘Horses for Healing of Northwest Arkansas’. At Horses for Healing, Power serves as a side walker, helping stabilize children on horses, while also interacting with them. Horses for Healing is a nonprofit therapeutic riding center for individuals with special needs in Northwest Arkansas. Horses for Healing also offers a Sports Riding Program providing advanced equestrian training and activities for independent riders that includes group lessons, camps and competitions.

2014 SEC Community Service Team
Margaret Power, Arkansas
Laura Lee Smith, Alabama
Tori Ball, Auburn
Jillian Graff, Florida
Andie Fontanetta, Georgia
Danielle Fitzgerald, Kentucky
Catalina Rubiano, LSU
Kelly McCormick, Ole Miss
Shelby Jordan, Mississippi State
Brittanee Randle, Missouri
Taylor Leach, South Carolina
Gabby Santorio, Tennessee
Allie Bailey, Texas A&M
Erin Myers, Vanderbilt

@RAZORBACKSOCCER ALL-TIME RECORDS WATCH
Goals
1. 44, Julie Williford (2000-03)
2. 38, Ruthie Miller (1989-92)
3. 35, Mary Howard (1987-90)
4. 29, Christina Burger (2003-06)
5. 25, ASHLEIGH ELLENWOOD (2012-present)
5. 25, Brittany Burns (1995-98)
7. 24, Heather Cato (1996-99)
8. 20, Jessica Fraser (1997-98)

Assists
1. 26, Holly Collins (1997-01)
2. 21, ASHLEIGH ELLENWOOD (2012-present)
3. 17, Alexis Hyrup (1992-96)
3. 17, TYLER ALLEN (2011-present)
5. 16, Abbey Wilburn (2005-08)
5. 16, Brittany Burns (1995-98)
5. 16, Honey Marsh (1991-94)
5. 16, Kit Carson (1990-93)
5. 16, Ruthie Miller (1989-92)
10. 15, Julie Williford (2000-03)
11. 14, Andie Hickman (1993-96)
12. 13, Nicole Bynum (1996-99)

Just out of the top 10:
10, JERIANN OKORO (2011-present)

Points
1. 103, Julie Williford (2000-03)
2. 92, Ruthie Miller (1989-92)
3. 81, Mary Howard (1987-90)
4. 71, ASHLEIGH ELLENWOOD (2012-present)
5. 69, Christina Burger (2003-06)
6. 66, Brittany Burns (1995-98)

TDS TOP 100 UPPERCLASSMEN & FRESHMEN
Junior Ashleigh Ellenwood and freshmen Nicole Ortega and Jessi Hartzler were named among Top Drawer Soccer’s Midseason Women’s National Top 100 Upperclassmen and Freshmen. Ellenwood, who clocked in at the No. 54 spot on the Preseason list, was No. 47 on the Midseason list.

Rookies Hartzler and Ortega were ranked 52nd and 92nd, respectively.

  • Click HERE to view the TDS Women’s National Top 100 List.
  • Click HERE to view the TDS Women’s Freshmen Top 100 List

HOME COOKIN’
The Razorbacks have arguably one of the best home-field advantages in country. Averaging 1,359 fans per home contest, the Razorbacks rank fourth in the SEC in average home attendance.

1. Texas A&M – 2,916/gm
2. South Carolina – 2,805/gm
3. Georgia – 1,736/gm
4. Arkansas – 1,359/gm
5. Tennessee – 1,278/gm

THANK YOU #RAZORBACKNATION
The 2014 season has been a great one for the Razorbacks, not only on the field, but also in the stands, as a program record 12,231 fans came out to support the women’s soccer team at Razorback Field this year. This season’s total turnout and average game crowd (1,359) continues a rise in attendance that dates back to the 2010 season.

There were many attendance records broken at Razorback Field this season:

  • In just the second game of the season, the program set a new single-game attendance record, as 2,268 fans witnessed a 2-1 win over Oklahoma State.
  • Over 1,000 fans were in attendance in eight of the nine games at Razorback Field this season. The lone exception came on Sept. 12 vs. Rice, where 900 people were in the stands.
  • Four of this season’s crowds (Utah State, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Texas A&M) cracked the top 10 for single-game attendance in Razorback Field history.
  • Seven of this season’s crowds (Utah State, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Missouri State, Auburn, Florida) broke into the top 15 for single-game attendance in Razorback Field history.

2010-14 Total Soccer Attendance

  • 2010: 5,365
  • 2011: 8,135
  • 2012: 9,255
  • 2013: 10,786
  • 2014: 12,231

2010-14 Avg. Single Game Attendance

  • 2010: 766
  • 2011: 904
  • 2012: 841
  • 2013: 981
  • 2014: 1,359

#SCTop10
This season, Arkansas accomplished a feat that most NBA/NFL/MLB teams can’t achieve…picking up a trio of SC Top 10 Plays.

In Arkansas’ 2-1 exhibition win over Creighton on Aug. 14, Tyler Allen’s 40-yard free kick goal in the 65th minute proved to be the game-winner. After a Creighton foul, Allen stepped up for a Razorback free kick and delivered a perfectly struck ball 40-yards down field that landed in left-hand side of the goal to break a 1-1 deadlock. Allen’s goal helped Arkansas pick up a victory in a contest they statistically dominated.

Her incredible goal came in at No. 6 on the SportsCenter Top 10 that night.

On Sept. 19, Allen found herself in a similar situation. Just four minutes into the second overtime, Kentucky committed a seemingly harmless foul 35-yards out from the goal. Allen, a free kick specialist, stepped up and delivered te ball from long distance into the upper left corner of the goal to give Arkansas its first win in a SEC opener since the 2011 season.

That night Allen made the SportsCenter Top 10 for the second time this season, this time at No. 5.

Late in the second half of the Razorbacks’ first round SEC Tournament matchup with Georgia, with the defense pushed up, Arkansas sent a cross into the box that was deflected out by the Bulldogs, landing in open space outside of the 18-yard box. Erika Miller came charging towards the ball and blasted a shot from roughly 25 yards out only to find upper right hand corner of the goal to send the game into extra time.

The goal, which was the second of Miller’s career, was the No. 6 play on the Top 10 on Nov. 3.

THE 2014 EDITION OF @RAZORBACKSOCCER
The Razorbacks are coming off a record-setting 2013 season that saw the team collect the most regular season wins in school history (15) and the programs first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. Arkansas will look to improve on those achievements this year as they enter one of the most anticipated seasons in program history.

Arkansas returns 20 players that accounted for 102 of the team’s 136 points from a team that went 15-8-1 and 5-6 in Southeastern Conference play. Of the 12 different players that scored a goal last year, eight return to make up 82 percent (36-of-44) of the goals.

DUO NAMED TO THE COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS PRESEASON TEAM
Forward Ashleigh Ellenwood and defender Kaylyn Cooper were named to the College Sports Madness SEC Soccer Preseason All-Conference Teams.

Ellenwood, who earned All-SEC second team honors last season, was named to the first-team preseason all-conference squad. Cooper, an anchor of the Arkansas backline that registered five shutouts last season, earned a spot on the second team.

NATIONAL PRESEASON POLLS
The Razorbacks were ranked No. 23 in the 2014 TopDrawerSoccer.com Preseason Poll that was announced on Monday, Aug. 11. The Razorbacks were one of four SEC squads ranked in the Top 25 along with No. 4 Texas A&M, No. 5 Florida and No. 9 South Carolina.

Arkansas, one of seven SEC programs to at least receive votes in the NSCAA preseason top 25 poll, will face four opponents ranked in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Preseason Poll in No. 4 Texas A&M, No. 5 Florida, No. 8 North Carolina and No. 12 Duke. The Gators and the Aggies will both battle the Razorbacks at Razorback Field this season.

PRESEASON SEC POLL
With 20 letterwinners, including eight starters, returning from last year’s NCAA Sweet Sixteen squad, the Arkansas women’s soccer team was tabbed eighth in the SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, announced by the league office on Monday, Aug. 11.

LOVE FROM TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM
In TopDrawerSoccer.com’s SEC preseason preview, the outlet highlighted Arkansas.

Here’s what they had to say about head coach Colby Hale and his Razorbacks:

“It was a breakout campaign for head coach Colby Hale and the Razorbacks, winning the program’s first-ever NCAA tournament game, advancing all the way to the third round before bowing out to Duke on penalty kicks. Forward Ashleigh Ellenwood, whose play in 2013 helped her earn a call-up to a U.S. U23 WNT camp, looks to lead the program’s encore, as they continue to climb the regular season conference standings. In all, eight of the team’s starters from last year’s squad are back, including Jeriann Okoro, Tyler Allen and Claire Kelley.”

U-23 US NATIONAL TEAM CAMP
Ashleigh Ellenwood got an early jump on her preparation for the 2014 campaign when she participated in the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team Domestic Training Camp from July 15-22 in Seattle, Wash.

A total of 24 players that were either current collegiate athletes or just played their senior season last fall made up the roster that will be led by head coach Steve Swanson over the seven days.

2013 #RAZORFACT TO REMEMBER
Arkansas’ record-setting 2013 started in style, as it opened with seven straight wins to find its way into the top 25 for the first time in program history. Over the opening seven games of last year, the Razorbacks out-scored their opponents 15-5 while coming away three overtime victories.

For more information on Arkansas soccer, follow @RazorbackSoccer on Twitter.