Tag: Anna Podojil

No. 9 Arkansas soccer program claims fourth SEC title in five years

The Arkansas soccer team earned at least a share of the SEC crown with a win against Ole Miss on Sunday.

The 9th-ranked Arkansas soccer team did it again on Sunday, crushing Ole Miss 5-1, to secure it fourth SEC regular-season title in five years.

Razorback Field was filled with 3,035 rowdy fans, the fourth largest crowd in program history and the fourth top 10 crowd of the season.

The Razorbacks (11-3-2, 7-1-1 SEC) have 22 points in the standing, putting them three points ahead of  South Carolina (11-1-5, 5-0-4) with one game remaining. A win on Thursday against Mississippi State would secure the program’s third outright league title.

Junior Sophia Aragon got the scoring started in the ninth minute of the match started the scoring almost nine minutes into the match, getting a pass across the box from forward Morgan White, and finished it with a shot between the legs of the Ole Miss goalkeeper.

The Hogs added two more goals in two minutes, as freshman Bella Field came in off the bench to score in 25th minute, followed by a goal by senior Ava Tankersley in the 27th minute, taking the lead to 3-0 before halftime. Tankersley has now registered a point in six straight matches.

Graduate Anna Podojil, the program’s all-time leading scorer, kept things rolling with a goal in the 56th minute, the 49th of her career. Midfielder Bea Franklin earned her second assist of the match.

Freshman Kennedy Ball scored her second goal of the season, capping the Arkansas’ scoring with a goal in the 77th minute, getting the assist from fellow freshman Sabrina Jones.

Freshman goalkeeper Phoebe Carver started her eighth game of the season and played the entire 90 minutes. Although she gave up her third goal of the season in the 79th minute, she also tallied two saves.

The Razorbacks’ 27 shots were the most in an SEC game this season, as Arkansas held Ole Miss to just six shots, the seventh time Arkansas has held an opponent to a single-digit shot total this season.

The Hogs will close out the regular season against the Bulldogs (9-3-4, 4-2-2 SEC) Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

No. 6 Arkansas soccer team wins fifth straight SEC match, defeats Georgia 2-1

The Razorbacks soccer team defeated Georgia, 2-1, on goals from Kiley Dulaney and Ava Tankersley

The No. 6 Arkansas soccer team remained red-hot to start SEC play, winning their fifth straight conference game, and their sixth straight, overall.

The Razorbacks (9-2-1, 5-0-0 SEC) got second-half goals from senior forwards Kiley Dulaney and Ava Tankersley to defeat Georgia 2-1 in front of 2,020 fans at Razorback Field.

The teams battled through a scoreless first half, despite the fact the the Hogs outshot the Dogs, 7-0. Georgia goalkeeper Jordan Brown made two of her game-high three saves before halftime.

Finally, at the 57:02 mark, Dulaney broke the ice with her second goal of the season. She got assists from midfielders Bea Franklin and Emilee Hauser, who sent the ball into the 18-yard box on a free kick. Dulaney missed the initial header but cleaned it up with a powerful shot into the upper right corner of the net.

Just over four minutes later, Tankersley boosted the Razorbacks’ lead to 2-0 with her third goal of the season, getting assists from freshman Bella Field and graduate Anna Podojil, who set up the shot with a header. It was Tankersley’s second game-winning goal in the past two games.

Georgia’s lone goal came at the 72:50 mark, when Brown launched a massive kick from her own goal position, which deflected off Arkansas goalkeeper Phoebe Carver and into the Razorbacks’ goal.

Carver recorded one save in the game to run her personal record to 4-0, coming in four straight starts. Unfortunately, the own goal ended her shutout streak.

Arkansas outshot Georgia 14-7 in the contest, and had nine corner kicks to none for the Bulldogs.

The Razorbacks will travel to Auburn on Sunday to face the Tigers in a Sunday night showdown on the SEC Network at 6 p.m.

No. 11 Razorback soccer team blasts No. 9 Alabama, 5-0

The No. 11 Arkansas soccer team took down No. 9 Alabama, 5-0, at home Thursday night.

The No. 11 Arkansas soccer team extended its unbeaten streak at Razorback Field to 27 games Thursday night, walloping No. 9 Alabama, 5-0, in front of a raucous crowd of 3,660.

The Crimson Tide (6-1-4, 0-1-1) was the highest-ranked team to play in Fayetteville since the Hogs faced No. 5 Texas A&M in 2020.

The Razorbacks (6-2-1, 2-0 SEC) wasted little time in asserting their dominance in the SEC home-opener, scoring three goals in the match’s first 15 minutes.

All-American graduate forward Anna Podojil led the charge once again, as she recorded assists on the first two goals, before scoring the third one herself. It was her program-record 48th career goal, which ranks second among active DI players.

Graduated mid-fielder Bea Franklin scored the opening goal, just three minutes in, as she took a cross pass from Podojil and tipped the ball into the net. Franklin is the team’s second-leading scorer this season with five goals.

Just four minutes later, Podojil found freshman midfielder Avery Wren, who drilled the ball from the top of the 18-yard box into the far post, for her first collegiate goal.

Podojil finally put herself in the scoring column, taking a low cross pass from fellow graduate forward Morgan White, then beating the Alabama defenders for a commanding 3-0 lead.

The Razorbacks have scored 32 total goals this season, with 14 different goal scorers.

“You’ve got to stop Anna, Ava (Tankersley) and Morgan,” Razorbacks Head Coach Colby Hale said. “And after that you still have 11, 12, 13 kids that can score.”

Arkansas’ primary goalkeeper, junior Sierra Cota-Yarde, was excused from Thursday’s match to play for the Portuguese national team. Freshman goalkeeper Phoebe Carver got her first start in goal for the Razorbacks and made the most of her opportunity, tallying five saves against the Crimson Tide.

“She did not look like a freshman,” Hale said. “It’s a big game for it to be her first game. I thought she was fantastic.”

White added a pair of goals to put the game away in the second half, showing off her speed to outrace the last Tide defender, then slipping the ball past Bama goal keeper Coralie Lallier, to make it 4-0 in the 52nd minute. She followed that with the game’s final goal in the 68th minute, cutting in from the far-left side and lobbing the ball just inside the far post.

Arkansas outshot Alabama, 23-15, and scored on half of its shots on target in the first half. The five-goal loss was Alabama’s largest margin of defeat since a 6-0 loss at Florida in 2016.

Hale credited the Razorback faithful for providing a true home-field advantage.

“This crowd is unbelievable,” he said. “They’re loud. They’re obnoxious. I thought they were a huge factor tonight.”

It was the  Razorbacks’ first shutout since blanking Oregon, 4-0, on Aug. 24. Their five goals were the second-most this year, behind only a 6-0 victory over Arkansas State in the season-opener.

Arkansas will look to extend its winning streak to four games when they travel to College Station to face Texas A&M (5-3-2, 1-0-1) Sunday at 6 p.m. It will be aired on the SEC+ network.

Freshman scores with 26 seconds left, lifting Hogs soccer to 3-2 win

Freshman Bella Field scores late to lead Razorback soccer to a 3-2 victory.

It was a bit of last-minute drama that sent Arkansas soccer fans home with a smile Sunday, as freshman forward Bella Field scored her first collegiate goal with 26 seconds remaining and put the the No. 11 Razorbacks ahead for good, in a 3-2 victory over Grand Canyon.

The 2,635 fans in attendance — the third largest crowd in program history — had just watched Grand Canyon (6-3-1) tie the score at 2-2 with 53 seconds left on the clock. But only 27 seconds later, the stands erupted after Field fired a near-post shot through the hands of ’Lopes goalkeeper Deaira Jackson, giving the Hogs (5-2-1) their fifth win of the season.

“We knew this would be a tough stretch,” Arkansas Head Coach Colby Hale said. “GCU is a good team. We played Friday for the SEC opener (a 3-1 win at Tennessee), and with travel and one day in between, we knew we’d have to grind through this one. We could’ve scored a few goals early that might have changed the match. We won and that’s what matters. We will celebrate this one, as winning is hard.”

Grand Canyon’s leading scorer Gianna Gourley notched the game’s first goal in the 11th minute. It remained 1-0 until the final two minutes of the half.

Arkansas tied the match at 1-1 on graduate forward Anna Podojil’s netter, off a free kick from senior Emilee Hauser. It was Podojil’s 47th career goal, which ranks second among active Division I players. She also tied her career-high with six shots, leading the way for the Hogs’ total of 25 in the match.

Then with 15 seconds left in the first half, the Razorbacks took their first lead when Zoe Shepherd scored her first career goal on a cross from Podojil, as the shot was mishandled by Jackson in net.

There was no scoring in the first 44 minutes of the second half, before GCU’s Bekah Valdez tied the match, as time wound down. But sophomore midfielder Makenzie Malham quickly sent a ball in, linked with senior forward Kiley Dulaney and graduate midfielder Bea Franklin, who got the ball to Field for the game-winner.

The Razorbacks will host No. 7 Alabama (6-0-4, 0-0-1 SEC) for the SEC home opener on Thursday. First kick is set for 6 p.m. and the match will be streamed on SEC Network Plus.

No. 8 Razorback soccer suffers first defeat at No. 4 UNC

The Arkansas soccer team took an early 1-0 lead, but was able to hang on in Chapel Hill.

The Arkansas soccer team took an early 1-0 lead on the road against fourth-ranked North Carolina on Sunday, but were unable to hold off the Tarheels in the second half and fell 3-1 in Chapel Hill.

It was the first loss of the season for the No. 8 Razorbacks (3-1-1).

The Hogs struck first when senior forward Anna Podojil’s scored her first goal of the season in the 22nd minute. After picking up the ball near midfield, Podojil broke away from a Carolina defender, then fired from outside the 18-yard box. The shot was deflected by Tar Heel goalkeeper Emmie Allen, but managed to bounce past the goal line.

It was Podojil’s 46th career goal, which leads all of NCAA Division I.

North Carolina (4-0-2) was able to knot the score at 1-1 in the 41st minute, getting a goal from forward Mia Oliaro. But not until the final 25 minutes did the Tar Heels begin to pull away, getting a goal from forward Ally Sentor in the 66th minute, then adding the final netter by forward Avery Patterson in the 82nd minute.

Arkansas gave up a season-high 17 shots, but only allowed one corner kick, while taking seven.

“We aren’t a silver lining team, and we will take a lot from that,” head coach Colby Hale said. “We did what we do and for long portions of the game, we were equal if not better. We went after them at their place. Corners were 7-1 us. Championship teams embrace doing difficult things and we will always go for it. We’re never happy with a loss and that is an important step for this team’s goals. We will grow as we take on the next challenge.”

The Razorbacks will remain on the East Coast this week to face No. 11 Clemson (3-0-1) on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT. The match will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.

Six Razorbacks named to SEC soccer preseason watch list

Arkansas soccer is full of momentum headed into Thursday night’s season opener with in-state rival Arkansas State.

After being picked as favorites to win the conference title last week, the No. 8 Arkansas soccer team got more preseason honors Tuesday, when six Razorbacks were named to the SEC Preseason Watch List.

Graduate forward Anna Podojil made her fourth appearance on the list, continuing the most decorated career in program history. The 5-foot-5 native of Cincinnati, Ohio, is already the Razorback’s all-time leader with 45 career goals, including 15 game-winners, and 119 points. She is also a 4-time All-American and 4-time All-SEC first-team selection.

She is joined on the list by fellow graduate midfielder Bea Franklin, a second-team All-SEC selection last season, as well as a trio of seniors — midfielder Ellie Podojil, forward Kiley Dulaney, and forward Ava Tankersley. It is Franklin and Ellie Podojil’s second time on the list.

Sophomore midfielder Makenzie Malham, who started 17 games last season and was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman team, made her first appearance on the list.

The Lady Razorbacks will open the season at home against Arkansas State on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Arkansas soccer breezes to 6-0 win in preseason finale

The Arkansas soccer team is tuned up for the regular season, which begins Thursday on its home pitch.

The No. 8 Arkansas soccer team looks primed for Thursday’s regular-season home opener against Arkansas State, after rolling to a 6-0 victory over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in Saturday’s preseason finale.

The Lady Razorbacks scored all six of their goals in a 24-minute span that began late in the first half, after freshman Patricia Tsokos booted in a free kick on an assist from junior midfielder Van Fitch, to break the scoreless tie in the 40th minute.

Fellow freshman Taliyah Spain then added a goal with five seconds remaining in the half, with an assist from sophomore Ainsley Erzen, to put Arkansas up 2-0 at the break.

The flood gates opened in the second half, as the Razorbacks got goals from seniors Anna Podojil and Ava Tankersley, along with junior Sophia Aragon and freshman Bella Field. Arkansas out-shot the Cougars 24-3, including 12-2 on goal.

Junior goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde played more than 71 minutes in net for the Razorbacks, recording one save. True freshman Phoebe Carver got 19 minutes in goal, also recording a save.

Arkansas, who tied Kansas State 1-1 in its first exhibition game on Monday, will welcome Arkansas State at 6 p.m. Thursday at Razorback Field.

Podojil ties record as Arkansas smashes Kentucky to finish fourth in SEC

Arkansas clinched the No. 4 seed for the SEC Tournament with a 6-0 win over Kentucky.

Anna Podojil has been a staple on the Arkansas soccer attack for years. Now, she can claim she is, perhaps, the best to ever do it.

Podojil became tied atop the Razorbacks’ all-time leaderboard in goals during Thursday’s 6-0 win over Kentucky. She tied the record on Senior Night, no less, in the last regular-season game of the season.

Her goal was the 44th of her career and gave Arkansas a 4-0 lead heading into minute 13. The six-goal win was the program’s largest since 1999. Ava Tankersley potted two herself, the team’s second and sixth, to register her sixth and seventh of the season.

Arkansas finished the regular season 11-3-3 and 6-2-2 in SEC play. They earned the fourth seed in SEC Tournament, which begins Tuesday. The Hogs will play Vanderbilt, the No. 5 seed. Arkansas won the teams’ regular-season meeting in early October, 3-0.

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Remember worrying about Arkansas? Not anymore

Arkansas has won five straight games, all by shutout, and ranked No. 9 in the country.

For a while, early in the season, some fear existed. The magic may have been over.

Not so fast, my friends, as Lee Corso would say.

The Arkansas soccer team has ripped off five straight victories, all by shutout, and climbed to No. 9 in the country with just two weeks left in the regular season. The Razorbacks (10-2-1, 5-1) are second in the SEC West, trailing Alabama by a game. Incidentally, they travel to Tuscaloosa on Sunday for maybe the nation’s biggest showdown against the No. 4 Crimson Tide.

Anna Podojil is tied for fifth in the SEC in goals with six. Ava Tankersley is tied for fourth in points with 18. Grace Barbara’s eight shutouts are third in the league.

It all adds up to giving the Hogs another shot at a high seed for the NCAA Tournament come November.

In the meantime, Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Kentucky and the SEC Tournament await last year’s regular-season and conference-tournament champions.

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Hogs have a new all-time leading scorer, beat Auburn

Colby Hale wondered if anyone will ever break Arkansas’ new record.

Nice night for a record.

Anna Podojil notched an assist in Arkansas’ 1-0 win on Thursday over Auburn to help the Razorbacks to their first SEC win of the year. In doing so, she became the Hogs’ all-time leading scorer.

“She’s still got a year and a half left,” coach Colby Hale said. “It may be a record no one ever breaks.”

Podojil passed her former teammate at the top. Parker Goins had the record with 108 points. She set it last year. But in the 55th minute, Podojil’s cross found Jessica De Filippo who potted home the game’s only goal.

Arkansas rolled, anyway. The Razorbacks outshot Auburn, 21-6. The win marked Arkansas’ ninth straight in the series and kept the team unbeaten at Razorback Field this year. The Hogs return to SEC play Sunday when they travel South Carolina.