Tankersley, Defense Lead Hogs to Top 10 Road Win

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 20 Razorbacks (7-2-1, 2-1-0 SEC) made the most of their latest trip to South Carolina as the Hogs took down the No. 8 Gamecocks (6-2-3, 1-2-0 SEC) 1-0 in Columbia for the first time in 17 years.

Junior Ava Tankersley provided the match’s only score and helped Arkansas earn its first ranked win of the season.

First Half

Arkansas started the match as the aggressor, with a ball from freshman Ainsley Erzen finding the back of the net in the 3^rd minute. However, the goal was waved off after the officials determined it was a handball.

The Hogs officially got on the board in the 31^st minute. Tankersley netted the eventual game-winner after senior Anna Podojil picked up a ball and connected with Tankersley on the near side. Tankersley cut into the box and fired off her left foot. The ball managed to allude three Gamecock defenders and the goalkeeper and deflected off the far post and into the back of the net for her third goal of the season.

“She [Tankersley] was tremendous,” Hale said. “She cut in and we work on that, the bent ball to the back post, she works on that quite a bit and I thought it was a great, composed finish.”

Second Half

The Razorbacks opened the second half with a few set pieces but did not extend their lead. The squad then shifted to defend the lead and made multiple plays down the stretch to stuff the South Carolina attack.

Defender Emilee Hauser blew up the Gamecocks’ best chance when SC midfielder Samantha Chang played a ball up to Shae O’Rourke inside the 18-yard box. Hauser intercepted the ball and took it out of the box.

Arkansas keeper Grace Barbara made five saves on the day and had a huge block to shut out South Carolina with 10 minutes to play.

“It was just a team effort,” Hale said. “Grace made the saves she had to make. They had one good chance and their best payer had one more chance. The backs are covering for each other clearing stuff and working together. I thought they adapted really well.”

Next Up

The Hogs return to Fayetteville for another nationally televised match on SEC Network, this time facing Texas A&M on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m.

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