Tag: Bea Franklin

These are the 10 Best Arkansas Athletes of 2023

Who was the best player for the Arkansas Razorbacks this season?

The calendar year of 2023 for Arkansas sports as a whole was a bit of a mixed bag.

But on an individual basis, several Hogs athletes made the most of things and had seasons to remember.

Our annual Top 10 Arkansas Athletes list this year includes one baseball player, one softball player, two football players, one women’s basketball player, two men’s basketball players, two volleyball players and a soccer player.

On the honorable mention list: two softball players, one soccer player, one baseball player, one volleyball player, one basketball player.

Check out the complete list of our honorees for the 2023 calendar year below.

Arkansas’ best soccer player now joining the Arkansas basketball team, too

Bea Franklin was the SEC Midfielder of the Year for the Razorbacks. Now she’ll join her classmates on the basketball court for the Hogs.

Several have played two sports while at the University of Arkansas. Rarely, though, are they as good as Bea Franklin.

The Razorbacks’ soccer midfielder, who was named SEC Midfielder of the Year for the top-15-ranked team, will join her classmates on the women’s basketball team, the Arkansas athletic department announced Wednesday.

Franklin led the Razorbacks on the pitch with a team-high nine goals and a team-high nine assists during the fall. It was her third season on the Arkansas soccer team after transferring from Notre Dame.

She hasn’t played college basketball, but she helped Seattle Prep to the state championship game in her last year of high school. As a senior, Frankling averaged a stat-stuffing 9.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals.

Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors has known her since even before then when he coached at the University of Washington.

Franklin is set to join the team in time for their games against Florida State on Thursday and UCLA on Sunday.

 

No. 10 Hogs suffer agonizing 1-0 loss in SEC Tournament final

The Razorbacks soccer team suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Georgia in the SEC Tourney championship game.

The No. 10 Arkansas soccer team (14-4-2) suffered the ultimate heart-breaker in the championship game of the SEC Tournament on Sunday in Pensacola. The Hogs fell to Georgia 1-0, with the lone goal coming off an own-goal that was deflected in off a Razorback player.

The goal was actually scored early in the game, less than seven minutes in, when Georgia’s Mallie McKenzie dribbled down the right flank and sent the ball in to teammate Hannah White at the near post. Unfortunately, the ball then went in the goal off the foot of Arkansas midfielder Makenzie Malham, who was pressuring White down the field.

The Razorbacks did everything they could to get the goal back and even the score, outshooting the Bulldogs 18-7 and forcing Georgia goalkeeper Jordan Brown to make seven saves. Graduate midfielder Bea Franklin led the Hogs with six shots on the day.

Freshman Phoebe Carver had another stellar game in goal for the Razorbacks, recording three saves.

Arkansas nearly tied it with 1:30 remaining in the match, as freshman midfielder Kennedy Ball sent a cross pass to the back post. It connected with freshman forward Bella Field, whose header sailed just over the crossbar.

A trio of Razorbacks – Malham, Franklin and forward Ava Tankersley – were all named to the All-Tournament Team.

The Hogs now await their NCAA Tournament draw, which will be revealed on Monday at 3 p.m. The selection show will be streamed live on the NCAA.com website.

Arkansas scores late goal, wins outright regular season SEC title

The Arkansas soccer team defeated Mississippi State, 1-0 to claim the outright SEC regular season championship.

Graduate midfielder Bea Franklin scored the lone goal with less than five minutes to play Thursday night, helping the Arkansas soccer team defeat Mississippi State, 1-0, to secure the outright SEC regular season championship.

Franklin took the assist from senior Emilee Hauser and booted the right-footed kick into the bottom left of the goal past Bulldog goalkeeper Maddy Anderson with 4:51 remaining.

Playing in front of 2,206 on Senior Night at Razorback Field, Arkansas (12-3-2, 8-1-1 SEC) completed a perfect 9-0 home slate this season and will now be the top seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament on Tuesday in Pensacola, Fla.

The Razorbacks outshot the Bulldogs 17-8, and held a 7-6 advantage in corner kicks. Freshman Phoebe Carver had another outstanding performance in goal for Arkansas, racking up five saves.

Arkansas will play the winner of the Auburn-Tennessee game on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Pensacola’s Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex. It will be aired on the SEC Network.

 

 

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. 9 Arkansas soccer nets late goal in 1-1 tie with LSU, stays atop SEC

Graduate Bea Franklin’s goal with seven minutes left helped the Razorbacks earn a 1-1 tie against LSU.

Just when it looked like the No. 9 Arkansas soccer team might fall victim to LSU in Baton Rouge Thursday night, graduate midfielder Bea Franklin slid in a shot just past the Tiger goalkeeper, with only seven minutes remaining, to secure a 1-1 tie.

Arkansas (10-3-2, 6-1-1 SEC) perfectly executed the dangerous free kick from outside the penalty box. Senior Ava Tankersley took the kick from freshman Avery Wren inside the 18-yard box, then booted a cross shot along the ground to a sliding Franklin, who scored her sixth goal of the season.

With 19 points, the Razorbacks still reside atop the SEC standings, just ahead of No. 17 South Carolina (4-0-4, 10-1-5 SEC).

After a scoreless first half, the Tigers (8-6-1, 3-4-1 SEC) opened the scoring on a header by forward Ava Galligan in the 76th minute.

Although Arkansas dominated possession in the first half, the Hogs didn’t didn’t get a shot off until forward Anna Podojil’s attempt in the 30th minute. But it was met with the first of  LSU goalkeeper Mollee Swift’s three saves in the game.

Freshman Phoebe Carver got the start in goal for the Razorbacks, tallying two saves, before being subbed out for junior Sierra Cota-Yarde, who gave up the goal, but recorded three saves.

The Hogs outshot the Tigers 18-13 and held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks. Both teams combined for 41 fouls and seven yellow cards.

If the Razorbacks can defeat Ole Miss (6-5-3, 2-3-2 SEC) at home on Sunday, they will clinch at least a share of the SEC regular-season title.

The game against the Rebels kicks off at 2 p.m. and will be streamed on SEC Network Plus. Sunday’s match will also be the annual Pups at the Pitch event, allowing fans an opportunity to bring their dog to the match.

Arkansas soccer defeats Texas A&M to stay undefeated in SEC play

With Arkansas soccer’s win over Texas A&M on Sunday, head coach Colby Hale reached an impressive career milestone.

[autotag]Arkansas soccer[/autotag] has had the Texas A&M Aggies’ number as of late.

On Sunday, the No. 11 Razorbacks (7-2-1, 3-0-0 SEC) were able to pick up their sixth-straight win over Texas A&M (5-4-2, 1-1-1 SEC) with a 1-0 road victory. The win means that Arkansas is the only undefeated team in SEC play through three games. It also marks the fourth straight win for Arkansas overall.

The lone score in the game came from freshman [autotag]Kennedy Ball[/autotag]. Ball picked an opportune time to score her first collegiate goal, as it ultimately was the difference in the game.

With 16 minutes left in the contest, the Hogs took their 12th corner kick of the game. That allowed them to keep possession until senior [autotag]Kiley Dulaney[/autotag] sent the ball into midfielder [autotag]Bea Franklin[/autotag] inside the six-yard box. Franklin then headed the ball right to Kennedy Ball, who’s shot snuck past the Aggie goalkeeper for the score.

One other notable thing about the win, is that it marked 150th win of Arkansas head coach [autotag]Colby Hale[/autotag]’s career.

Next up for the Razorbacks is a trip to Missouri to face the Tigers on Thursday, September 28th. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and will be streamed on SEC Network+.

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.

Unbeaten no more: Arkansas hands Michigan State first loss

The Razorbacks are getting Top 25 votes and should pick up more next week after the win.

Bea Franklin’s rough-and-tumble style earned her four fouls Sunday when Arkansas played Michigan State.

That style also earned her a second goal of the season, the lone one to find the back of the net as the Razorbacks handed the Spartans their first loss of the season, 1-0, in Fayetteville.

Junior forward Ava Tankersley lined up for a free kick in the 77th minute after putting pressure on the MSU midfield and drawing a foul. Her boot found Franklin, who had to battle Spartans defenders, and the 5-foot-10 senior from Seattle popped home a header to give the Hogs the victory.

“We just knew that they had a strong keeper so somebody had to get in front of the keeper on any free kick or corner kick we had,” Franklin said. “That was my mission on that kick, and I just was able to get my head on it.”

Tankersley picked up an assist, her fifth of the season, a team high.

Arkansas has won four straight games after a season-opening loss to St. Louis. The Razorbacks picked up four votes for the Top 25 last week. They travel Thursday to Provo, Utah, to play sixth-ranked Brigham Young.

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