Soccer

No. 10 Soccer Set for Week 2 Matchups with Oregon and No. 12 Notre Dame

August 23, 2023
Game Notes

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 10 Arkansas (1-0-0) and Oregon (0-1-0) will meet for the first time Thursday night.

Kickoff for the match, originally set for 6:30 p.m., was moved back to 7:30 p.m. due to excessive heat. The match will be streamed on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Kelly Hellbusch (analyst) on the call.

The match will be a red out. The team will wear new red kits and fans are encouraged to wear red. The first 250 students will receive a red Razorback Field shirt and the first 1,000 fans will get a red pom.

The Weekend

The Hogs will play their first Sunday match on Aug. 27 and play No. 12 Notre Dame for their road opener. The match will kickoff at 3 p.m. CT and air on ACC Network with Jenn Hildreth (play-by-play) and Morgan Bowen (analyst) on that call.

The meeting is the first between the two squads to take place in the regular season, and the second all-time. Arkansas defeated Notre Dame in a wild Sweet 16 match at Razorback Field in 2021.

Both teams ended their 2022 campaigns in the Elite 8.

The Hogs

Arkansas dominated Arkansas State to open the season last week. All six goals were scored by different Razorbacks, including first-time scorer freshman Patricia Tsokos.

Sophomore midfielder Ainsley Erzen netted the Hogs’ first goal of the season. Arkansas finished the match with 34 shots and held Arkansas State to seven.

The Razorbacks return eight starters from last year’s Elite 8 team, including forwards Anna Podojil and Ava Tankersley, midfielders Ellie Podojil, Bea Franklin and Makenzie Malham and defender Ella Riley, the squad’s six All-SEC selections from 2022.

The Hogs are led by four-time All-American Anna Podojil, who enters the season as the NCAA Division I leader in career goals (45) and points (119). The most decorated player in program history, Podojil also leads the program in all-time goals and points.

Scouting the Ducks

The Ducks faced Baylor in their season opener last week and lost 2-0 with just five shots. Oregon returns Pac-12 all-freshman forward Ajanae Respass, who led the team with four goals and 10 points last season.

The Ducks are one of the youngest teams in the nation. Oregon’s 29-player roster features 15 freshmen (10 true freshman, five RS-freshmen), nine sophomores, four juniors, no seniors and one fifth-year player.

Scouting the Irish

The Irish finished one win shy of reaching the College Cup in 2022, dropping a 2-0 decision to ACC foe UNC. They also were one win against Duke away from a share of the ACC regular-season championship.

The ACC Defender of the Year, First Team All-American and Mac Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, Eva Gaetino returns for her senior year, once again anchoring the three-woman backline in the middle. The Irish notched 14 shutouts and only allowed 16 goals in 2022.

Thursday’s Info

Opponent: Oregon
First Kick: 7:30 p.m. CT
Streaming: SEC Network+, Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Kelly Hellbusch (analyst)
Links: All match links can be found here all season long.

Sunday’s Info

Opponent: No. 12 Notre Dame
First Kick: 3:00 p.m. CT
Streaming: ACC Network, Jenn Hildreth (play-by-play) and Morgan Bowen (analyst)
Links: All match links can be found here all season long.

Quick Kicks

  • The Hogs enter week two ranked No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches poll
  • The Razorbacks are 39-8-4 when ranked inside the top-10 of the USC poll
  • The Hogs and Oregon are meeting for the first time
  • Arkansas will look to extend its 23-match home unbeaten streak, which dates back to 2021.
    • The Hogs have gone 21-0-2 at Razorback Field since beating No. 25 BYU on Aug. 30, 2021.
  • Dating back to 2016, Arkansas is 58-9-4 at Razorback Field
  • Arkansas’ 2023 roster contains 16 newcomers: 14 freshmen and two transfers
  • Graduate senior Anna Podojil was named to United Soccer Coaches Forwards to Watch list and TopDrawerSoccer’s Preseason Best XI Third Team and the No. 29 player on their preseason top 100 watch list.
  • Anna Podojil, Ellie Podojil, Bea Franklin, Kiley Dulaney, Ava Tankersley and Makenzie Malham joined the SEC Preseason Watch List

Up Next

Arkansas will host Milwaukee on Thursday, Aug. 31 and travel to No. 3 North Carolina on Sunday, Sept. 3. Sunday’s match will air on ACC Network.

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

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