Razorbacks beat 8th-ranked Gamecocks on the road

Arkansas' Ava Tankersley (21) pushes the ball upfield Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, as Auburn's Hayden Colson (20) applies pressure during the first half of play at Razorback Field on the university campus in Fayetteville.

Ava Tankersley scored the game winner and Arkansas won at South Carolina for the first time since 2005 on Sunday.

The No. 20 Razorbacks defeated the No. 8 Gamecocks 1-0 to record their second consecutive shutout. Arkansas lost six straight at South Carolina from 2007-19.

Tankersley’s third goal of the season came on a great individual effort in the 32nd minute. Tankersley crossed over a South Carolina defender on the right side of the 18-yard box, then rolled a left-footed attempt off the far post from about 15 yards away. 

“We work on that bent ball to the back post,” Arkansas coach Colby Hale said. “She works on that quite a bit, and I thought it was a great finish.”

Tankersley, a junior, has eight assists this season and leads the Razorbacks (7-2-1, 2-1 SEC) with 14 points. 

“She kept growing and committing herself, and in the spring she was working harder in the weight room and fit and competent,” Hale said. “They grow, right? When you're a freshman you're just trying to survive and the sophomore year you’re getting into it, and by the time you're a junior you know the answers…where to be and what to do. 

“You can tell she's grown up big time.”

Arkansas goalkeeper Grace Barbara recorded five saves to earn her fifth shutout. Barbara knocked away Catherine Barry’s clean look from about 10 yards in the 81st minute, and saved another look by Barry in the 89th. 

Barbara was aided by solid defense by an Arkansas back line that has played several games without All-SEC defender Bryana Hunter. Among the defensive highlights was Emilee Hauser’s 62nd-minute interception as the Gamecocks appeared to be setting up a look in front of the net. 

“People are stepping up all over the place,” Hale said. “The freshmen are being thrown into the fire and responding. The older players are beating. 

“There’s a lot of progress we still have to make, a lot of growth, but we are growing up every game.”

Arkansas has won two straight since a 2-0 conference-opening loss at Mississippi State. The Razorbacks are scheduled to host Texas A&M on Thursday. 

South Carolina (6-2-3, 1-2) lost in its conference home opener.