Texas A&M soccer returns to Ellis Field to host Arkansas on Sunday night at 6PM. This is a huge game for A&M, but the matchup itself may be overshadowed by the much anticipated Taylor Swift theme night. This will be A&M Soccer: Taylor's Version.
Anywhooo....the game will air in the usual places - Video on SEC+ on the ESPN App and audio via the 12th Man app or Radio Aggieland.
So, let's talk about Arkansas. Arkansas is a team that A&M used to routinely beat. After the Ags reeled off 8 straight wins, the tide changed in 2018 as Arkansas started their own winning streak against the Aggies. Since 2018, A&M is 0-5 against the Razorbacks. Close contests have been a theme of this series as well, with 9 of the last 10 matches having a 1 goal margin of victory.
This 2023 version of the Arkansas team is going to be a problem. The Razorbacks are 6-2-1 on the season, with those losses coming to top 10 teams of #1 North Carolina (1-3) & #8 Clemson (0-1). Arkansas also tied #10 Notre Dame.
Arkansas put in a lot of goals as they notched victories against all of their other non-conference opponents: Arkansas State (6-0), Oregon (4-0), Milwaukee (5-2), Grand Canyon (3-2).
Arkansas started SEC play with two of the best teams in the conference. They handed Tennessee a 3-1 loss in Knoxville, then absolutely dominated #9 Alabama in a 5-0 beat down.
Arkansas started the week with a #11 ranking, but after the match against Alabama, they are looking at moving up into the top 10.
In that match against Alabama, the Razorbacks outshot them 23-15. The only matches that Arkansas has been outshot in were against UNC and Tennessee. On average, they're outshooting opponents 18-11 and outscoring them 3-1.
In total, Arkansas has 29 goals on the season. 3 of those have come off the foot of Anna Podojil. Yes, she's still there. Anna is in her 5th year at Arkansas and is routinely included on award lists and watch lists. She is the all-time leader for Arkansas in goals, is a 4 time All-SEC pick, has been a national first teamer twice and a MAC Hermann Award semifinalist.
Anna Podojil's production has been eclipsed by a couple of fellow 5th year players. Morgan White is a transfer from Marshall, who has played significantly less minutes than Anna, but has a team-high 6 goals (and 2 assists). She's a threat when she's on the field. Bea Franklin also has 5 goals this season.
In total, Arkansas has 14 different players that have scored a goal this season. I'm not sure where to look it up, but that has to be near the top in the nation.
Sierra Cota-Yarde played all 720 minutes of Arkansas first 8 matches in goal. Phoebe Carver went the full 90 in the most recent game, against Alabama. Together they've combined to allow 11 goals, while making 30 saves. Arkansas has 3 total shutouts.
The trend over the last five matches has been one goal Arkansas wins. It's going to be tough to keep them within one goal in this one.
Anywhooo....the game will air in the usual places - Video on SEC+ on the ESPN App and audio via the 12th Man app or Radio Aggieland.
So, let's talk about Arkansas. Arkansas is a team that A&M used to routinely beat. After the Ags reeled off 8 straight wins, the tide changed in 2018 as Arkansas started their own winning streak against the Aggies. Since 2018, A&M is 0-5 against the Razorbacks. Close contests have been a theme of this series as well, with 9 of the last 10 matches having a 1 goal margin of victory.
This 2023 version of the Arkansas team is going to be a problem. The Razorbacks are 6-2-1 on the season, with those losses coming to top 10 teams of #1 North Carolina (1-3) & #8 Clemson (0-1). Arkansas also tied #10 Notre Dame.
Arkansas put in a lot of goals as they notched victories against all of their other non-conference opponents: Arkansas State (6-0), Oregon (4-0), Milwaukee (5-2), Grand Canyon (3-2).
Arkansas started SEC play with two of the best teams in the conference. They handed Tennessee a 3-1 loss in Knoxville, then absolutely dominated #9 Alabama in a 5-0 beat down.
Arkansas started the week with a #11 ranking, but after the match against Alabama, they are looking at moving up into the top 10.
In that match against Alabama, the Razorbacks outshot them 23-15. The only matches that Arkansas has been outshot in were against UNC and Tennessee. On average, they're outshooting opponents 18-11 and outscoring them 3-1.
In total, Arkansas has 29 goals on the season. 3 of those have come off the foot of Anna Podojil. Yes, she's still there. Anna is in her 5th year at Arkansas and is routinely included on award lists and watch lists. She is the all-time leader for Arkansas in goals, is a 4 time All-SEC pick, has been a national first teamer twice and a MAC Hermann Award semifinalist.
Anna Podojil's production has been eclipsed by a couple of fellow 5th year players. Morgan White is a transfer from Marshall, who has played significantly less minutes than Anna, but has a team-high 6 goals (and 2 assists). She's a threat when she's on the field. Bea Franklin also has 5 goals this season.
In total, Arkansas has 14 different players that have scored a goal this season. I'm not sure where to look it up, but that has to be near the top in the nation.
Sierra Cota-Yarde played all 720 minutes of Arkansas first 8 matches in goal. Phoebe Carver went the full 90 in the most recent game, against Alabama. Together they've combined to allow 11 goals, while making 30 saves. Arkansas has 3 total shutouts.
The trend over the last five matches has been one goal Arkansas wins. It's going to be tough to keep them within one goal in this one.
