Soccer takes show to Michigan

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Fresh off its third win of the season the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team takes its show on the road for a Sunday afternoon matchup with Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich.

For the Lady Razorbacks, the trip marks the first foray outside a two-hour bus ride for the season and completes a tough opening portion of the schedule that sees it play five games over 10 days. During that stretch, the Lady’Backs are 3-1-0 and have posted three shutout victories.

“I’m looking forward to the match,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “We have played well so far this season and Friday night we were not able to finish as well as we would have liked. The players are aware of that and expect to do better this game. I t should be a well played match by both sides.”

Western Michigan enters Sunday’s game fresh after a week-long layoff. Losing its first two games of the season, Western Michigan has not played since last Sunday’s match, a 5-2 loss at the Univ. of Missouri. The Arkansas-Western Michigan clash is the first time the two schools have met and the first time an Arkansas soccer team has played anyone from the state of Michigan.

In order for the Lady Razorbacks to keep posting wins they need to continue to get goals from a variety of sources. Freshman Kelly O’Connor leads the team in goals with three, but a plethora of Lady’Backs have scored thus far and its that unpredictability of where the next shot is coming from that has kept opposing defenses guessing.

On the defensive side of the ball, Arkansas has relied heavily on its experience among the back four. As a unit, the Lady Razorback defense has nine years of collegiate experience and more than 150 games played. Seniors Allison Harris and Sarah Gwisdala anchor the group with junior Megan Fawley and sophomore Rachel Smith each starting for the second year of their careers. In goal, the Lady’Backs have turned to freshman Britni Williams who has played well in each of her first four collegiate matches. Conceding just two goals in four games she has earned a 0.48 goals against average which places her among the Southeastern Conference leaders.

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