Soccer returns to Fayetteville to face Alabama

FAYETTEVILLE – Following a pair of weekend splits on the road, the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team returns to Fayetteville for the first time this month to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide at Lady’Back Field on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m.

Arkansas enters the match looking to even its Southeastern Conference record and guarantee a winning season while the Crimson Tide look to turn around a tough 1-5 start in SEC play. The match has grown in significance over the past two weeks as the team’s paths to the SEC Championship Tournament have begun to take form and both squads are looking for a win to inch closer to their goal.

“It’s nice to be back,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “Alabama is a team that typically plays well against us so it is going to be a battle from the start. It is an important game for both sides when you look at the SEC Tournament and I think that fans will see a tough match.”

Arkansas was able to defeat the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa last season on the strength of Abbey Wilburn’s goal and game-winning assist. In the match, the Lady’Backs came back from a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 and defeat the Crimson Tide for the first time since 2002.

For Arkansas to be successful in its Friday match, it will have to get production from its forwards. Sophomore Lindsay Patterson was the spark the Lady Razorbacks needed against Georgia and teammates Sophie Wentz and Kat Moffett will have to join in with Christina Burger to push Arkansas past a tough Alabama squad that always plays tough, physical defense.

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