FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ soccer team will attempt to add a third trophy to the school’s championship haul Friday.
The Razorbacks’ men’s and women’s cross country teams won at the SEC championship meet Friday morning, and the Razorbacks’ No. 7 soccer team can clinch the SEC West title with a victory over No. 15 Auburn with their game that is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Arkansas (5-1) has won 11 consecutive games against SEC West opponents and is unbeaten in teams from its division since October 2018. With a victory, the Razorbacks would be assured one of the top two seeds at the SEC Tournament next month in Orange Beach, Ala.
“We want to be process based and goal based,” Arkansas coach Colby Hale said. “The process is we have to play well, work hard and it’s a big game because it’s the next one. But we also remind them, ‘Hey, we control our own destiny.’ If we win out we win the SEC and we win the West.
Friday's Ticket
WHAT No. 7 Arkansas vs. No. 15 Auburn
WHEN Friday, 6:30 p.m.
WHERE Razorback Field, Fayetteville
RECORDS Arkansas 5-1; Auburn 2-0-2
TV SEC Network-Plus
NOTEWORTHY Arkansas sophomore forward Anna Podojil is tied with Addie McCain of Texas A&M for the SEC lead with nine points this season. Podojil’s points have come on three goals and three assists. She is tied for the league lead in assists….Podojil also leads the SEC with 3.7 shot attempts per game. Arkansas freshman forward Ava Tankersley is third in the conference with 3.2 attempts per game. The Razorbacks are averaging a league-best 16.3 shots each game and are tied with South Carolina for the most goals scored (13)….Arkansas is hosting a top-15 matchup for the third consecutive game at Razorback Field. The two previous visitors, Texas A&M and South Carolina, were ranked No. 5 and No. 15, respectively, for their games against the Razorbacks.
“We don’t obsess about it and it’s not all we talk about, but we definitely remind them we’re playing for something. These games matter. We’re in the hunt and that’s where we want to be every year. We wouldn’t define success or failure if we didn’t reach those goals…but those are absolutely goals for us.”
Arkansas is the reigning SEC and division champion. The Razorbacks are tied with South Carolina atop the SEC standings, but the Gamecocks hold the tiebreaker due to their 2-1 victory in Fayetteville two weeks ago.
South Carolina has regular-season games remaining against Mississippi State and Tennessee.
With a victory Friday, Arkansas could only be caught in the division standings by Texas A&M, but the Razorbacks hold the head-to-head tiebreaker by virtue of their 2-1 win over the Aggies on Oct. 4.
“We have gotten every team’s best effort,” Hale said. “We are now the hunted, hated Razorbacks….We’re seeing very different teams (in games) than we’re seeing on video.
“We haven’t gotten every break, we’re getting everyone’s best effort and we’re still finding ways to win. I think that says a lot about this team and group, and their maturity.”
Auburn (2-0-2) is also in the hunt for the SEC West title, but would be eliminated from contention with a loss at Arkansas. The Tigers have had two games postponed this season due to covid-19 testing and have four remaining.
The Razorbacks have only one regular-season game remaining after Friday, at Mississippi State next week.
The Tigers moved into the national poll with a notable 1-0 victory over Georgia on Oct. 18, and remained ranked following a 1-1 tie against Kentucky last week.
Auburn freshman goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska enters Friday’s game with the SEC’s best save percentage of 93.3%. The Tigers have recorded two shutouts this season.
“I think they’re really good,” Hale said of Auburn. “I think they’ve got good, dynamic players and haven’t given up many goals.”
Hale said he plans to play only one goalkeeper again for the Auburn game, but did not specify who. Taylor Beitz was in net for all 90 minutes of the Razorbacks’ 2-1 victory at Ole Miss last week after she and Alexis Bach split time in net the first five games of the season.
“I don’t know if it’s a permanent move,” Hale said. “We like both goalkeepers.”
The Razorbacks trained indoors all week because of cold and rainy conditions in Fayetteville. Friday’s conditions are forecast to be clear and cool.