In their second top-25 matchup in Southeastern Conference play, Texas soccer lined up against the No. 5 Arkansas Razorbacks. Compared to their last matchup a decade ago which ended in a 0-0 tie, the two teams scored seven goals with the Razorbacks winning 4-3. The game marks the Longhorns’ third loss in conference play.
Starting the game, the Longhorns came out different than their usual formation. Instead of playing with one holding midfielder to protect the backline, head coach Angela Kelly opted for two, partnering sophomore midfielder Arianna Brothers with senior midfielder Ashlyn Miller.
“I think we knew and prepared exactly for what we were going to face,” Kelly said. “Our goal is to win every match, and we made decisions as a staff to win this match.”
Despite their defensive shape, the Longhorns found the lead early in the game when senior goalkeeper Mia Justus launched the ball from her own box trying to find senior forward Holly Ward. With Arkansas’s defense not tracking the ball correctly, Ward was able to escape from the press and find herself in a one-versus-one with Razorback freshman goalkeeper Keegan Smith. Smith was not able to stop the shot as the ball went past her to give Texas a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.
Ward, only six minutes later, found herself in another one-versus-one. However, the Arkansas defense stood strong denying the Longhorns a second goal. The Razorbacks would capitalize on this only two minutes later when graduate forward Ava Tankersley found her foot from sophomore forward Bella Field’s cross.
In the 19th minute, Ward again found herself in the box, this time crossing the ball into midfielder Lexi Missimo’s path. The senior was able to open up with the ball and immediately finesse the ball into the goal, reinstating Texas’ lead, 2-1.
However, Arkansas was able to find another equalizer after the Longhorn defense couldn’t clear multiple loose balls in the box. Razorbacks’ junior forward Taylor Breman capitalized on the lackluster defense, scoring in the final seconds of the first half.
It did not take long for the Razorbacks to eventually find the lead in the second half when Smith took a set piece, finding sophomore midfielder Kennedy Ball in the box, which was headed across the box into Tankersley’s path, who volleyed it into the back of the net.
After 15 minutes of back-and-forth play, Tankersley tooo a set piece at the edge of the box. Crossing it in, the Longhorns’ defense was again not able to clear the ball, allowing graduate forward Kate Doyle to kick the ball into the goal.
“They have their style of play with set pieces and more of a direct style,” Kelly said. “We needed to clean up some of those set pieces and second balls. Credit (to Arkansas) for executing that.”
In an attempt to make a comeback, the Longhorns found their third goal with Miller combining with Missimo to score in the 78th minute; however, the Longhorns still fell short 4-3. This third goal from Texas meant that for the first time this season, Arkansas conceded three goals in one game.
“(The team) created a lot of great opportunities that we could have buried and (I’m) proud of the fight in our team until the last second,” Kelly said. “That was a battle. If that’s a top-five team, we’re not too far away.”
Texas is now 4-3-1 in conference play with two games remaining and their next being a home matchup against Mizzou. The Longhorns face the Tigers on Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium at 7 p.m.
