Soccer

No. 8 Hogs Host Milwaukee, Head to No. 4 North Carolina

August 31, 2023
Game Notes

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 8 Arkansas (2-0-1) and Milwaukee (2-0-2) will meet for the second time on Thursday night.

Kickoff for the match will take place at 6:30 p.m. The match will be streamed on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Kelly Hellbusch (analyst) on the call.

The Weekend

The Hogs will play their second ACC opponent, No. 4 North Carolina (2-0-2), on Sunday, Sept. 3. The match will kick off from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at 1 p.m. CT and air on ACC Network with Joe Malfa (play-by-play) and Marion Crowder (analyst) on the call.

The Tar Heels, the 2022 national runners-up, and the Hogs are meeting for the third time, with the last coming in 2021 in Chapel Hill. North Carolina won the match, 1-0, in overtime.

The Hogs

Arkansas is coming off a 1-0-1 week in which it defeated Oregon, 4-0, and tied No. 12 Notre Dame 2-2.

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 Panthers

Unbeaten through four tough games and winners of the “Challenge Cup” over the past weekend, the Milwaukee women’s soccer team continues ts challenging non-league opening to 2023 with a road trip to take on nationally-ranked Arkansas Thursday night. The Panthers topped Minnesota, 1-0, August 24, giving the team a win over an opponent from the Big Ten for the first time since 2011.

The start to the season for the Panthers was also noted nationally, with the team picking up six votes (up from 1) in the United Soccer Coaches national poll this week and now No. 3 in the north regional poll (up from 6).

The team returns eight of its Top 10 point scorers, including team leader Kayla Rollins, who not only led the team with her 20 points and nine goals but also topped the Horizon League in both categories. In addition to Rollins, the Panthers return Lainey Higgins, who led the league with her 10 assists (which finished 14th in the NCAA) and added three goals for 16 points which ranked fourth in the Horizon League. MKE graduated just three regular starters and will have an experienced roster that sees eight players that made at least 11 starts (out of the 19 total games) a year ago including Higgins (all 19), Anna Champine (19), Rollins (17), Senya Meuer (17), Elizabeth Reece (17), Brooke Parnello (16), Clara Broecker (12), and Kendall Edwards (11).

Scouting the Tar Heels

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: Milwaukee
First Kick: 6:30 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: at No. 4 North Carolina
First Kick: 1:00 p.m. CT
Streaming: ACC Network, Joe Malfa (play-by-play) and Marion Crowder (analyst)
Links: All match links can be found here all season long.

Quick Kicks

  • The Hogs enter week two ranked No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches poll
  • The Razorbacks are 39-8-5 when ranked inside the top-10 of the USC poll
  • Arkansas will look to extend its 24-match home unbeaten streak, which dates back to 2021.
    • The Hogs have gone 22-0-2 at Razorback Field since beating No. 25 BYU on Aug. 30, 2021.
  • Dating back to 2016, Arkansas is 59-9-4 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 prolong their stay on the east coast and face No. 11 Clemson on Thursday, September 7.

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

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