Arkansas made an uncharacteristically early exit from the SEC Soccer Tournament on Tuesday in Pensacola, Fla.
The ninth-ranked Razorbacks lost 5-4 in penalty kicks to Vanderbilt in the tournament quarterfinals. Arkansas failed to make the championship game of the tournament for the first time since 2015, when the Razorbacks did not qualify for the tournament.
Filling in for No. 1 starter Kate Devine, Vanderbilt goalkeeper Sara Wojdelko knocked away an attempt by Arkansas’ Jessica De Filippo to seal the win for the Commodores. Devine made a penalty kick moments before the save.
The teams were tied 1-1 after regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods. The Razorbacks had multiple scoring chances late in the second overtime.
Arkansas’ only goal in regulation came on a penalty kick by Shana Flynn in the sixth minute. Vanderbilt tied the game 1-1 when Peyton Cutshall headed a shot to the top left corner in the 70th minute.
The Razorbacks out-shot the Commodores 18-12, including 7-4 on goal. Wojdelko made six saves and Arkansas’ Grace Barbara made three saves.
The penalty shootout began with a miss by Vanderbilt’s Alex Kerr, whose attempt went above the crossbar. Arkansas took a 1-0 lead moments later when Emilee Hauser connected on a shot inside of the left post.
Brooke VanDyck made Vandy’s second penalty kick to tie the shootout 1-1, and Flynn missed high on the ensuing attempt for the Razorbacks. Both teams made each of their penalty kicks until De Filippo’s attempt.
Vanderbilt, which lost 3-0 at Arkansas on Oct. 9, advanced to play third-ranked Alabama in the semifinals Thursday. The Commodores (12-3-3) have made the semifinals eight consecutive seasons.
Arkansas (11-3-4) will learn its first-round NCAA Tournament matchup Monday.