Soccer ready for one more

NORFOLK, Va. – Coming off a weekend sweep, the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team hopes to make it three in a row when it travels to Norfolk, Va., to take on the Old Dominion Monarchs on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. eastern.

The Lady Razorbacks were most impressive in their wins last weekend as they look to continue their winning ways. Posting back-to-back shutouts of Grambling State and Southern University, the Lady’Backs defense has been strong throughout the season surrendering just six goals in seven matches. That strong play in the back has allowed Arkansas to post a 4-3-0 overall records while Old Dominion enters the contest 2-3-1.

The Monarchs are a team that Arkansas is quite familiar with having taken on Old Dominion in each of the past two seasons. In 2002, Arkansas made the trip to Norfolk and put on a stunning show, beating the host 5-2. Last season’s match took place at Lady’Back Field where Arkansas held a 1-0 advantage late, but allowed a goal in the final moments of the contest which eventually ended in a 1-1 tie.

“This is a great chance for us to play another quality opponent,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “Right now we are very goal oriented and we are taking each game as it comes. This is a new location for us and gives us an opportunity to place in some different conditions.”

For Arkansas, the Old Dominion match holds much more value than a win or loss in the record books. Riding a two-match winning streak into the contest, Arkansas is looking to wrap up its non-conference schedule with its best record in eight years. The Lady Razorbacks begin Southeastern Conference play next Friday night and Arkansas’ coaches are firm believers in the momentum generated by winning streaks.

While Arkansas’ defense has been its backbone, the Lady Razorbacks still have to score goals in order to win games and leading the way are sophomore Christina Burger and freshman Sarah Gwisdala who each have eight points on the year. Gwisdala is Arkansas leading goal scorer with four tallies, while Burger has three goals and two assists. Gwisdala poured in four goals last weekend including the game winner against Grambling for the first points of her career and Burger entered the 2004 season as Arkansas’ leading returning goal scorer and is half-way to eclipsing the numbers from her freshman year just half way into the year.

For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.