Razorbacks Top Bears In Shootout
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas’ offense came alive Friday night as the Razorbacks won a wild shootout over the Baylor Bears, 3-2, at Razorback Field. Junior Kayla McKeon scored the game-winning goal in the 58th minute of the match off an assist from sophomore Parker Goins.
A loud crowd of 2,529 were in attendance at Razorback Field and were sent home happy as Arkansas improved to 3-1-1 while Baylor fell to 3-2-0 for the season.
McKeon scored her second goal of the season, both coming in game-winning fashion, off a header that she put in the right side of the net, just out of the keepers reach. Goins set her up perfectly with a cross after Arkansas regrouped in front of the net to get the teams third assist of the night.
From Head Coach Colby Hale
“What a great night for college soccer. It’s just so fun to see what these players have built. The fans were unbelievable, I mean the chanting, it was just an awesome college soccer night, and I think they were the difference in the game. Our players played tremendous, I’m just really proud of them.”– Head coach Colby Hale on the big crowd that was on hand
From Junior Kayla McKeon
“I’m just really proud of our team. The first half didn’t go as we wanted, obviously, but we were able to stay in it by getting the quick goals back, I mean that last second goal was awesome and the crowd was in it the entire time. I’m just really proud of our team coming out in the second half stronger and showing who we are.” – Kayla McKeon on the team’s victory over Baylor
“It was a great ball by Parker [Goins] finding me on the back post. We’ve worked on that in training a lot, it was just driving to the middle, getting it out wide, and then getting a good cross-in and I tried to finish it on the ground.” – Kayla McKeon on her game-winning goal in the second half
“[The crowd] was awesome! I loved all the chants that they were doing. They were in it the entire time and they really help us out a lot, even though we can’t really react to it, obviously, we know they’re there and it pumps us up.” – Kayla McKeon on the loud crowd and how it helped the team
How It Went Down
10th minute – Baylor found its way on the scoreboard first with a 10th minute goal from Camryn Wendlandt. After Baylor was awarded the free kick from just outside the top of the box, Julie James’ shot attempt veered toward the right post and Wendlandt deflected it past Arkansas keeper Rachel Harris. It was Wendlandt’s third goal of the season.
20th minute – The Razorbacks responded in fairly quick fashion as sophomore Abbi Neece scored for the first time in 2018 after a deflected ball found her feet at the top of the box. Neece saw an opening and finished with a clean shot into the top left corner of the net to equalize the match at 1-1.
22nd minute – Just two minutes after Neece’s score, Baylor, again, went back up a goal as Raegan Padgett beat the last Razorback defender on a quick counterattack. It was Padgett’s second goal of the year.
45th minute – The Razorbacks went into the locker room with all the momentum as freshman Maddie Ricketts scored with time winding down in the first half. After Taylor Malham’s shot attempt was blocked by a Baylor defender, Ricketts was there to pick up the rebound and score from 14 yards out. Ricketts is the seventh different Razorback to score a goal so far this season.
58th minute – Kayla McKeon’s game winner came just 13 minutes into the second half as Arkansas was getting multiple looks at the goal. After a shot attempt was deflected in the middle of the box, the Razorbacks were able to reset their offense with Parker Goins attempting a cross on the left side. McKeon was in the perfect spot on the back post and finished with a header for her second goal of the year. McKeon joins junior Marissa Kinsey as the two leading scorers on the team.
Other Key Notes
-The three goals scored Friday against Baylor were the most goals scored by an Arkansas team in a win since Sept. 17, 2017 in a 3-1 win over Oral Roberts.
-With her 58th-minute goal Friday, junior Kayla McKeon has now scored two goals this season and both have been game winners.
-Sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Harris picked up her third victory between the pipes this year, making eight saves in 90 minutes.
-Kayla McKeon and Taylor Malham led the team with five shots on the night. Malham had two shots find the target in 82 minutes of playing time.
-Arkansas won the corners game, 7-4, in Friday’s win over Baylor. In four of its five matches this year, Arkansas has totaled seven or more corners.
-Maddie Ricketts’ goal in the 45th minute was her first points of her collegiate career.
Up Next
Arkansas gets the rest of the weekend off and will return to the practice field on Monday in preparation for the rest of its homestand starting with Florida Atlantic on Friday, Sept. 7. First kick with the Owls is set for 7 p.m.
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