Seven Hogs Earn All-SEC Honors
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Ninth-ranked Arkansas had seven student-athletes placed across the three All-SEC teams, the league announced on Sunday.
Forward Anna Podojil makes her fourth straight appearance on the First Team and is Arkansas’ only selection. Her senior season has been historic, as she tied the program’s all-time goals record (44) last week and became the program’s all-time points leader earlier this season. Podojil has started every game this season and her seven goals lead the team, tied with second-teamer Ava Tankersley. She was named National Player of the Week and SEC Offensive Player of the Week for notching a brace against Grand Canyon and scoring a goal at No. 13 BYU.
Midfielders Bea Franklin and Ellie Podojil and goalkeeper Grace Barbara join Tankersley on the Second Team.
Tankersley rejoins the all-conference squad after being named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2020. She leads the team in goals (7), assists (11) and points (25). Tankersley’s 11 assists are good for second in the league and sixth nationally. Tankersley was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 16 after netting the game-winning goal against No. 8 South Carolina and recording an assist against Auburn.
Ellie Podojil, also a member of the 2020 Freshman All-SEC Team, makes her way on the Second Team. She has started every game this season and scored two goals while primarily playing in a defensive role. She notched her first collegiate goal on Aug. 25 at Oklahoma and recorded her first collegiate assist against Vanderbilt on Oct. 9.
Barbara, who has made an immediate impact upon arrival from Princeton, where she earned All-Ivy League honors, leads the SEC in shutouts (11), goals against (9) and goals-against average (.55). She set the program’s single-season shutout record with her 10th, against Ole Miss on Oct. 23. Her nine goals against are the fewest conceded by an Arkansas goalie in a single-season, as of now, and she shut out eight of 10 opponents in league play.
Franklin continues to make an impact in her second season as a Razorback. The Seattle native has been a leader on the field and has provided three goals, including the game-winner against Michigan State on Sept. 1. She is also a leader off the field, as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The honor is the first of her career.
The Razorbacks’ four additions to the second team are the most of any other school.
The Hogs placed two rookies, Ella Riley and Makenzie Malham, on the Freshman All-SEC Team to round out the conference honors. Riley, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week, has played in all 17 matches this season, getting the start in 16 at defender. She leads all freshmen in minutes (1,388) and has played the full 90 in nine matches.
Malham was named the league’s Freshman of the Week for assisting in two goals against Vanderbilt on Oct. 9. She netted her first collegiate goal against Oklahoma on Aug. 25 and leads all freshmen in points (8) with two goals and four assists while playing at midfield.
Riley and Malham, along with Ellie Podojil and the rest of Arkansas’ defense have been key in holding nine of 10 SEC opponents to single-digit shot totals.
Next Up
The Hogs will begin postseason play at the SEC Tournament in Pensacola, Florida. Fourth-seeded Arkansas (11-3-3, 6-2-2 SEC) will face the No. 5 seed Vanderbilt (11-3-3, 5-3-2 SEC) on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 7:30 P.M. CT. The match will be televised live on SEC Network.
The Razorbacks defeated the Commodores 3-0 earlier this season on Oct. 9.
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