Women's Soccer - SMU vs. Arkansas

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

First, here is what the piggies are saying...

http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=11473&SPID=678&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205244454&DB_OEM_ID=6100

FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas' soccer team officially starts its season on Friday when the Razorbacks play host to SMU at 7 p.m. at Razorback Field.

Arkansas had a good warmup on Saturday with an exhibition game at home against Oklahoma. Third-year head coach Erin Aubry played 20 Razorbacks, including 17 freshmen and sophomores, and took the Sooners to overtime before falling 3-2.

"We did a good job, but there were clearly a lot of nerves in the first half," Aubry says. "By the second half, they were in a rhythm and were confident. We had a great talk at halftime. I think the second half was a better indicator of our talent and how we'll compete this season."

Aubry's roster includes a total of 33 student-athletes, but 27 are freshmen and sophomores. Five starters and 15 letterwinners are back from last season.

"We are young, but we have energy," senior forward Kailey Anders says. "We told the younger players before the season we need them to step up because they have roles on the field and off. It was exciting to see seven freshman starting and take Oklahoma to overtime."

SMU was 11-7-4 a year ago for head coach Brent Erwin, including a 6-4-1 mark in Conference USA. The Mustangs lead the all-time series 10-1, but the teams have not met since 2000.

"SMU is in a very soccer-rich area," Aubry says. "They are well-coached and have a lot of good players. They will be just as good, if not better, than Oklahoma. We're excited to play them and to be home for the opener."

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

The Razorbacks are obviously a very young team. The other interesting thing is 13 of their 33 players are from the Dallas area and most of them played club in Dallas, so I imagine there should be some familiarity between the teams already.

This is definitely one we should win though even though it is on the road - considering they have so much youth and were only 139 in RPI last season.

Of course, we will probably be starting four or five freshmen and sophomores as well, but the experience in the back with Webb/Eidson/Cox should make a huge difference.

Their exhibition result against Oklahoma is pretty impressive though.

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Starting lineup:

Webb; Smith, Cox, Eidson, Hartweck; Bartol, Baum, Clarke; Redman, Scovill, Lewis

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I like this lineup. I still like Burgardt up front, but Redman is certainly the first choice, and using Scovill and her physical presence and Lewis and her speed is probably a good mix for the start. Obviously, Burgardt will get plenty of minutes this season.

Hartweck has looked more than capable of following in the footsteps of Lauren Shepherd in moving from forward to left back. I think our defense should be very solid this season.

The wildcard is obviously in midfield. Tonight will show a lot. Bartol needs to be on from the start, and Clarke will need to show she can bring the speed and tenacity she brought in the exhibition to a real match (not too concerned about Clarke to be honest).

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SMU dominating possession early.

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Ponies finally starting to generate some good shots from the possession.

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1-0 Arkansas - totally against the run of play.

Razorbacks take possession of a Webb clearance and are able to fire one over her head before she can get back in the net.

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2-0 Arkansas - another midfield turnover and a cross to somebody unmarked in the box about 8 yards out. [deleted].

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We keep getting great offensive chances but just can bury anything!

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Clarke has sent Redman in clean two or three times already - one of them just has to go in at some point.

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Now Baum sends Burgardt in clean and their keeper makes another great save. Frustrating!

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2-0 Arkansas HT.

SMU leading in shots 8-6, shots on goal 5-4, and corners 6-1.

First goal was just bad luck - a horrible combination of a quick turnover on a clearance on a drop kick from Webb where she was obviously 18 yards out and they are able to float one over her and into the net. The second goal was a defensive breakdown leaving somebody unmarked in the box after a turnover in midfield.

Arkansas only had the run of play in the first half for about five minutes. SMU just has to capitalize on some of the chances. The through balls from the midfield have been awesome, but the forwards have either missed or failed to get a shot off (to be fair, their keeper has been quick off her line to get to some of the balls before our forwards could).

First half standouts have been Smith, Clarke, and Redman. Clarke has taken the ball from 35-40 yards out into the box on her own two or three times - one of them is going to end up in a goal at some point.

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Second half underway.

Same SMU lineup that started the game:

Webb; Smith, Cox, Eidson, Hartweck; Bartol, Baum, Clarke; Redman, Scovill, Lewis

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Less than a minute in an Lewis heads one just two feet wide.

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Baum shoots just high from 20 after a great feed from Redman.