FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas football team opens its season against NAIA opponent John Brown at 7 p.m. Thursday at Razorback Field.
The Razorbacks, who were undefeated in the preseason and outscored their opponents 20-2, were voted the SEC favorite in the preseason coaches poll. Two players – forward Ava Tankersley (26) and defenseman Kelsey Oyler (32) – were named to the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Top 100 list.
Arkansas is ranked No. 16 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, making it one of seven ranked SEC teams. The Razorbacks won the SEC regular-season title last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
John Brown enters the game ranked No. 20 in the NAIA preseason coaches poll. The Golden Eagles finished 18-3-1 last season and lost 2-1 to Aquinas (Michigan) College in the round of 16.
Because this is a game between Division I and NAIA programs, the game will count toward Arkansas’ official record, while it will count as an exhibition game for JBU.
The Razorbacks defeated the Eagles 6-1 in a spring friendly.
Arkansas has showcased its offensive prowess in each of its three preseason games, particularly against Big 12 opponents Kansas and Kansas State. The Razorbacks were deadly in the air against the Jayhawks, winning 5-1. They continued their onslaught against the Wildcats, winning 6-1 in Manhattan, Kansas.
Arkansas defeated junior college Seminole (Okla.) State 9-0 in its last game.
Coach Colby Hale praised his team for its versatility in attack, which had eight different scorers in the last exhibition game. He said the Razorbacks need to communicate better on defense and execute their runs better in the final third.
John Brown brings back graduate striker Lauren Walter, who led the Eagles last season with 18 goals and had a team-high 13 assists. Second-year midfielder Julia Lambert returns after a rookie season in which she scored 9 goals and added 13 assists for 31 points.
Junior goalkeeper Regan Riley returns after making several second-half saves in the spring exhibition match against Arkansas. Last season, she split time with graduate Emily Dobbins. JBU also has freshman goalkeepers Sunnie Woodard and Marely Fonseca.
Arkansas has one of the best rosters in the country on paper. Tankersley leads the attack, with freshman Anaiyah Robinson standing out in the preseason, along with Taylor Berman, Sophia Aragon, Kiley Dulaney and others. Defensive back Avery Wren returns after an All-SEC freshman season.
Oyler and Kate Doyle both came to Arkansas from Gonzaga.
The Razorbacks are battling for the starting goalie spot. Senior Peyton Whipple and freshmen Emma Parker and Keegan Smith all played in goal during the tryouts.
Dulaney, Tankersley, Oyler, Xavier transfer Ella Rogers, Ella Riley, Macy Schultz, Makenzie Malham, Bella Field and Kennedy Ball were all named to the SEC’s preseason watch list.
PLANNED PLAYING TIME
Thursday, 7 p.m. at Razorback Field (1,500) in Fayetteville.
TV
The game will be streamed by SEC Network+ and ESPN+ and can be accessed on WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app (subscriber login required). Josh Haley (live commentary) and Kelly Hellbusch (analyst) will be on the phone.
WEATHER
According to the National Weather Service, Thursday will be sunny with highs of 95 degrees and a heat index of 107 degrees in Fayetteville. Southwest winds will be 5-15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
