No. 7 Soccer Primed for Second Weekend of NCAA Tournament
FAYETTEVILLE – Seventh-ranked Arkansas (17-4-0) continues its quest to the College Cup, facing Virginia Tech (12-5-2) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Razorback Field on Friday, Nov. 19. First kick is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and the match will be aired on SEC Network Plus.
The two squads last met in the NCAA Tournament in 2018’s second round, where the Hokies won in double overtime.
The second-seeded Hogs defeated Southland Conference champions Northwestern State, 5-1, in the opening round to advance to their fourth straight second round appearance. The victory improved the program’s all-time record in the event to 8-5-2.
No. 4 seed Virginia Tech downed Ohio State in the first round, 3-1.
Arkansas will also serve as the host for Notre Dame and Purdue, and the Sweet 16 match to be played on Sunday, Nov. 21 at 4:30 p.m. CT.
Tickets for both rounds can be purchased here.
The Hogs went 1-1 at last year’s event, defeating Utah Valley then falling to eventual national champion Santa Clara in the Sweet 16.
Match 22 Info
Opponent: Virginia Tech
What: NCAA Second Round
Date: Friday, Nov. 19
First Kick: 6:30 p.m. CT
Links: Live Stats | SEC Network+ Josh Haley (play-by-play) and Kelly Hellbusch (analyst)
Quick Kicks
>> Virginia Tech leads the all-time series 1-0, with the only meeting coming in 2018’s second round in Cary, North Carolina. The Hokies won in double overtime.
>> The Razorbacks are making their eighth appearance in the last nine years with a 7-5-2 all-time record in the NCAA Tournament
>> The Hogs have outscored opponents 63-20 this season.
>> The Razorbacks won their third straight SEC regular season title after shutting out No. 19 Auburn, 2-0, and secured the western division after downing Mississippi State, 2-0. Arkansas advanced to its sixth straight SEC Tournament title game, falling to No. 10 Tennessee, 3-0.
>> Arkansas went on a 14-0 run, the longest win streak in program history
- The run started on Aug. 30 and ended on Oct. 28.
- The Razorbacks outscored opponents 48-6 during the stretch
>> Six Hogs earned SEC Postseason Honors
- Bryana Hunter: SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and First Team All-SEC
- Parker Goins: SEC Midfielder of the Year and First Team All-SEC
- Anna Podojil: First Team All-SEC
- Taylor Malham: First Team All-SEC
- Kayla McKeon: Second Team All-SEC
- Sophia Aragon: SEC All-Freshman Team
>> The Hogs are 31-3-2 in Fayetteville since 2018.
>> Senior Parker Goins notched her 105th point versus Missouri, breaking the program’s record all-time points record (103).
>> The Razorbacks were picked first in the SEC preseason coaches poll, tied with Texas A&M.
>> Three of the Hogs wins have come against ranked teams; No. 13 Tennessee, No. 24 BYU and No. 19 Auburn.
>> Six Hogs were named to the 2021-22 SEC Preseason Watch List, announced earlier this month by the league office. Parker Goins, Anna Podojil, Taylor Malham, and Bryana Hunter earned preseason all-league honors for the third straight year. Kayla McKeon made her first appearance on the list following her All-SEC Second Team season, while Louisville transfer Jessica De Filippo makes her first appearance on the list.
>> Anna Podojil and Parker Goins were named to the MAC Hermann Award Watch List. Goins and Podojil, who were both named to the SEC Preseason Watch List the same week, earned first team All-SEC honors in 2020 and led Arkansas to its second-straight SEC regular-season title.
For more information on Arkansas Soccer, follow @RazorbackSoccer on Twitter.
