Soccer

No. 8 Hogs Host Arkansas State for Season Opener

Fuller Birch
Fuller Birch August 16, 2023
Game Notes

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Razorback soccer is back for its 38th season.

The Hogs will open the year with in-state opponent Arkansas State with kickoff set for 6 p.m. The match will be streamed on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Josh Haley (analyst) on the call.

Eight-ranked Arkansas enters the season atop the SEC preseason poll after finishing the 2022 campaign in the Elite 8 and winning 13 matches, the seventh straight season the Hogs have had double-digit wins.

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 Red Wolves

The Red Wolves are returning eight starters from the 2022 squad that posted a 9-6-3 record and went 7-2-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. Arkansas State is led by junior forward Aliyah Williamson, who scored 11 goals and notched four assists last fall.

Head Coach Brian Dooley is in his ninth season leading the Red Wolves. He has a record of 66-58-19 (.528) at A-State and is in his 27th season overall as a head coach. In 2022, he was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year for the second-consecutive season.

Match Info
Opponent: Arkansas State
First Kick: 6:00 p.m. CT
Streaming: SEC Network+, Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Josh Haley (analyst)
Links: All match links can be found here all season long.

Quick Kicks

  • For the second straight season, Arkansas will start out as No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll.
  • Arkansas and Arkansas State are meeting for the third time and last met on August 25, 2022. The Hogs have won both matches.
  • Arkansas will look to continue its 22-match home unbeaten streak, which dates back to 2021.
    • The Hogs have gone 20-0-2 at Razorback Field since beating No. 25 BYU on Aug. 30, 2021.
  • Dating back to 2016, Arkansas is 57-9-4 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.
  • Podojil will begin the season as the NCAA Division I leader in career goals (45) and points (119).
  • Anna Podojil, Ellie Podojil, Bea Franklin, Kiley Dulaney, Ava Tankersley and Makenzie Malham joined the SEC Preseason Watch List.

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

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