Arkansas soccer ready for biggest home game ever

Arkansas soccer coach Colby Hale talks to his players during practice Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015, in Fayetteville.

— Arkansas’ seven seniors are no stranger to the NCAA Tournament.

The Razorbacks made the tournament for the first time in 2013 and advanced to the Sweet 16, and won another postseason game in 2014. But no Arkansas player past or present has ever experienced a postseason game at Razorback Field.

That will change Friday as the Razorbacks (17-5) will host Memphis (14-4-1) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The game is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.

Friday's Ticket

WHEN: 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Razorback Field, Fayetteville

RECORDS: Arkansas 17-5; Memphis 14-4-1

TV: ESPN3.com

TICKETS: Adult general admission tickets are $8. Students and children aged 17 and under get in for $5. Children 2 and under will be admitted free with a ticketed adult. The first 500 UA students with IDs will be admitted free. Tickets may be purchased at ArkansasRazorbacks.… or by calling 1-800-982-4647.

SERIES: Arkansas leads 4-1

NOTABLE: Arkansas is making its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first since 2014; Memphis is in the tournament for the first time since making five straight appearances between 2007-11.

“Anytime you have the opportunity to play for a national championship, it’s exciting,” Arkansas coach Colby Hale said. “Hosting makes it special. That is a first for the program and has been a goal from the start.”

Arkansas is 9-1 at home this season as fans have shown up in record numbers to the 1,500-seat Razorback Field. The Razorbacks had a record attendance of 3,010 for an upset win over then-No. 2 Duke in August, and also exceeded capacity for a win over Georgia in October.

Hale said he expects the attendance record to fall again for Friday's game.

“It’s so exciting,” said Rachel Riggs, a senior midfielder. “We’ve been talking about it since I was a freshman and we got into the tournament for the first time. We all said, ‘How cool would it be if we got to do it here in Fayetteville?’

“We went to Oklahoma State my freshman year and we had a lot of our fans go there. Having a few people there helped a lot, so I think being on our home field and having all of our fans there will be even better.”

Memphis finished second in the American Athletic Conference this season and led the league with nine shutouts. Senior goalkeeper Maryse Bard-Martel has saves on 80 percent of shots against her.

The Tigers are led offensively by senior forward Valerie Sandersen, a four-time all-conference player who has Memphis career records for goals scored (52) and points (122). She has 16 career game-winners and has scored multiple goals 12 times.

Hale is familiar with Memphis. He was an assistant coach at Central Florida from 2003-11 and shared a conference with the Tigers.

“(Memphis coach) Brooks Monoghan is a friend of mine,” Hale said. “I know a couple of their kids are quite good. It should be a great game, great matchup.

“It’s a new season. The NCAA Tournament is one-and-done. You lose you’re done, you win and you go on. It just creates a whole new sense of urgency.”