No. 13 Iowa Upsets No. 6 Arkansas, 3-2, in Season Opener

FAYETTEVILLE – Sixth-ranked Arkansas (0-1-0) had an answer for Iowa’s (1-0-0) two early goals, but a second-half screamer by Hawkeye midfielder Abby Skiff gave the visitors a statement 3-2 win in the season opener.

Iowa pressured the Razorbacks early and took a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute after a handball penalty was called against sophomore Kyndal Ewertz. Hawkeye forward Liana Tarasco’s penalty kick was saved by Arkansas goalkeeper Keegan Smith, but she got the put-back for her first collegiate goal.

Graduate forward Kenzie Roling doubled Iowa’s lead in the 26th minute with a finish across the six-yard box on a pass from midfielder Sofia Bush

Razorback goalkeeper Keegan Smith was forced to make four saves in the first half, and Iowa outshot the Hogs, 8-6.

Arkansas finally got on the board three minutes into the second half, thanks to a long-range free kick from the right leg of defender Taylor Tommack, who played in her first game since sustaining a nearly career-ending right leg injury in the spring of 2024.

Skiff’s screamer from 40 yards out came just two minutes later and put the Hogs back to a two-goal deficit with 40 minutes to play.

Ewertz cut into Iowa’s lead in the 55th minute after connecting passes from midfielder Jailyn Brownlee and Tommack found her right foot. Junior Kennedy Ball had a chance to finish it off but opted to dummy the ball past Hawkeye goalkeeper Taylor Kane as she dove for a save.

Arkansas hunted for an equalizer for the rest of the match, with a few chances from freshman Molly Teed and senior Ainsley Erzen sent just over the crossbar.

The Hogs outshot Iowa 12-3 in the final 45 minutes but could not prevent their first regular-season home loss since the spring of 2021, when Arkansas lost to Saint Louis, 3-1, during the split COVID-19 season.

Up Next

Arkansas will host No. 2 Notre Dame on Sunday, August 17. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and the match will be televised live on SEC Network with Mike Watts (play-by-play) and Ian Carry (analyst) on the call. The Irish picked up a 2-1 win over Western Michigan on opening night.

For more information on Arkansas soccer, follow @RazorbackSoccer on social media.