FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas begins the 2016 women's soccer season with an experienced roster focused on a return to the NCAA postseason.
The Razorbacks made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and 2014 and advanced all the way to the Sweet 16 in 2013. Last season turned out to be more of a rebuild for the program, however, as Arkansas dropped to 6-11-1 overall and just 2-8-1 in the Southeastern Conference.
Arkansas Razorbacks Soccer
Date^Opponent^Time
Aug. 19^at James Madison^6 p.m.
Aug. 21^at Virginia Commonwealth^10:30 a.m.
Aug. 26^Duke^7 p.m.
Aug. 29^Missouri-Kansas City^6 p.m.
Sept. 1^Northern Iowa^6 p.m.
Sept. 4^at George Washington^11:30 a.m.
Sept. 9^at Mississippi State*^7 p.m.
Sept. 11^North Texas^6 p.m.
Sept. 16^Florida*^7 p.m.
Sept. 18^Lipscomb^1 p.m.
Sept. 22^at Alabama*^7 p.m.
Sept. 25^at Ole Miss*^2 p.m.
Sept. 30^Georgia*^7 p.m.
Oct. 6^Vanderbilt*^6 p.m.
Oct. 9^at South Carolina*^1 p.m.
Oct. 14^at Auburn*^7 p.m.
Oct. 20^Missouri*^7 p.m.
Oct. 23^Kentucky*^1 p.m.
Oct. 27^at LSU*^7 p.m.
Oct. 31-Nov. 6^SEC Tournament at Orange Beach, Ala.^TBD
*— Southeastern Conference match
Arkansas returns 19 players from last year's team, though, and that experience along with a strong cast of newcomers has fifth-year coach Colby Hale optimistic about a much-improved turnaround this fall.
"We really like our team," Hale said. "It's a great mix of returning experience and talented newcomers."
Senior midfielder Claire Kelly, the team's top goal scorer last season, returns to lead on offense. Kelly scored seven goals and added three assists as a junior. Fellow seniors Alexandra Fischer and Katie Moore are back at the forward positions. Fischer played in all 18 games last year and Moore finished with three goals and three assists in 17 games.
On defense, goalkeeper Cameron Carter -- who started six games as a junior -- returns in the net and senior defender Erika Miller is back as one of only two players who started every game for the Razorbacks last season. Junior defender Jessica Hartzler and sophomore Carly Hoke, a member of last year's All-SEC Freshman Team, will also help strengthen the Arkansas defense this season.
"I'd say this is a very hungry group," Hale said. "There is a great mix of experience and youth in this team.
"I think we are all ready to get going."
Arkansas opens the season at 6 p.m. today at James Madison. Hale has challenged his team with a difficult non conference schedule to prepare for the tough SEC, including the home opener on Aug. 26 against preseason No. 3 and defending national runner-up Duke.
"The idea in nonconference is to test ourselves and prepare for the toughest conference in college athletics while positioning ourselves for NCAA play,, while also providing our fans a product worthy of their time and money," Hale said. "I think we've done that. Our fans are the best in the country and we continue to get better.
"We have some tricks up our sleeve this year and I can't wait."
Sports on 08/19/2016