No. 5 Arkansas Outlasts No. 24 Texas
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 5 Arkansas (12-1-1, 7-1-0 SEC) outlasted No. 24 Texas (11-3-2, 4-3-1 SEC), 4-3, in a back-and-fourth affair inside Mike A. Myers Stadium on Friday night.
The two teams met for the first time as conference opponents and had not met since 2014.
Despite giving up the opening goal, the Hogs fought back with an immediate answer from forward Ava Tankersley. After a shot from Bella Field was saved by a Longhorn defender, Tankersley blasted the rebound into the back of the net for her first of two goals on the night.
Texas reclaimed the lead in the 20th minute via prolific scorer Lexi Missimo’s 54th career goal.
With time ticking off at the end of the first half, junior Taylor Berman stole the Longhorns’ momentum with an equalizer that bounced around in the 18-yard box before she finished it off for her second goal in as many matches.
Arkansas and Texas finished the first half even at 2-2 with the Hogs holding a 10-8 advantage in the shots category.
The Razorbacks leveled the match once more in the 57th minute with Tankersley’s second score of the match. Freshman goalkeeper Keegan Smith took a free kick near midfield that was headed into open space by Kennedy Ball, where Tankersley launched a right-footed shot past Texas goalkeeper Mia Justus. Smith and Ball were awarded the assists and Tankersley notched her third brace of the season.
Graduate forward Kate Doyle provided Arkansas with much-needed insurance in the 72nd minute after she got her own rebound that was saved by Justus. Doyle opened the season with seven goals in six matches and is up to nine on the season.
With 12 minutes to play, the Hogs conceded a third goal, the most they have given up in a match this season.
Tankersley and Missimo lead their respective teams with 10 goals each.
Arkansas finished the match ahead in shots 19-18 and forced Justus to make a season-high 10 saves. Smith recorded six saves.
Up Next
The Hogs will play their final home match of the regular season on Oct. 24 against Texas A&M. The Aggies are coming off a 2-2 draw against LSU. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and the match will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus.
For more information on Arkansas soccer, follow @RazorbackSoccer on social media.
