DAVID YERBY UA Sports Information Arkansas ’ Britni Williams makes one of her three saves to help preserve the Razorbacks ’ shutout of Missouri State on Aug. 22 in Springfield, Mo.

After prevailing 1-0 in the season opener at Missouri State, the Arkansas women’s soccer team begins its home slate with two matches this weekend at Razorback Field.

Arkansas will host Tulsa Friday at 7 p. m and Oral Roberts Sunday at 1 p. m.

“ Both should be good tests for us at home, ” said Gordon Henderson, Arkansas’ head coach. “ All we’re looking to do after these next two games is progress forward from what we saw last Friday. ”

Henderson said the back line performed admirably against Missouri State. Maintaining its organization, the defense didn’t permit a single shot on goal.

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Henderson was particularly pleased with senior defender Sarah Gwisdala, who showed no ill effects from last year’s seasonending knee injury. The back line was further fortified by senior Megan Fawley’s return from a preseason injury. She supplemented her play in the defensive third by assisting the Razorbacks’ lone goal, a Nikki Crocco header.

“ We had some concerns coming into the game, ” Henderson said. “[Gwisdala ] came back with flying colors and played a full 90 minutes. Megan Fawley, coming back from an injury she picked up in the preseason, we played her for 75 minutes and again she came through with flying colors.

“ That helped us breathe a lot easier. Anytime you limit your opponent without a shot on goal, it’s a good sign.

Henderson said the Razorback attack generated plenty of quality scoring chances against Missouri State, but he’d like to see more connectivity between the midfielders and front runners this weekend. The two groups were disjointed at times last week, with the midfielders not delivering enough passes forward.

“ We’d like to get a bit more consistency from balls from the middle third to the last third of the field, ” Henderson said. “ I think our forwards did a good job in presenting themselves as targets, but we’ll be looking for them to get a few more opportunities for themselves going to goal. ”

Henderson said the Razorbacks’ play in the defensive third is a good harbinger for the SEC season. If they can punch up their attack, the Razorbacks can improve on their 1-9-1 league record from last season. Arkansas lost six matches by one goal in 2007 and two of the losses came in overtime.

“ The past couple of years in the SEC we’ve played very strong opponents who are ranked in the top five and the top 10 in the country and it’s been a very close game, ” Henderson said. “ Where we’re at as a program right now, instead of losing those games in overtime, those are the games that we’ve now got to get a goal so we can win a game.

“ We’re right there. That is the hardest step to take, to take that little bit of firepower that’s going to take you forward when your shape is pretty good in the back. ”

Crocco’s decisive goal against Missouri State marked the fourth-straight year a freshman notched the winning tally in the season opener. Crocco was a late substitution last Friday. Henderson said her technical aplomb and effort bodes well for Crocco finding a starting spot in the midfield.

“ She earned that goal, ” Henderson said. “ She played a lot of good minutes off the bench, and I think before the end of the year she’s going to be challenging for a starting spot. It was a great reward for her for the hard work she put in, but also the rest of the team.

“ That was a goal that came from a set play, that was kicked back out, that was recycled. It was a great ball in from Megan Fawley, and a great header. It was a very good goal. ”