FAYETTEVILLE – No. 16 Arkansas soccer continued its August dominance with a 7-1 victory over John Brown in the 2024 season opener.
The Hogs (1-0-0) netted 27 goals against their three exhibition opponents: Kansas, Kansas State and Seminole State, earlier in the month.
Despite a slow start, Arkansas added goal after goal for the remainder of the match, beginning in the 10th minute with Kiley Dulaney’s sixth career goal.
Ava Tankersley, the reigning SEC Forward of the Year, netted her first score in the 40th minute after an excellent through ball from forward Zoe Susi. After picking up the pass at the top of the 18-yard box, Tankersley leaped over the JBU goalkeeper for an easy touch into the empty net.
Susi added to Arkansas’ lead after tapping in a cross from forward Taylor Berman with three seconds left in the first half, her first goal since missing the 2023 season due to injury.
Not long into the second half, forward Kate Doyle, a transfer from Gonzaga, netted her first goal as a Razorback with the help of Tankersley, who scored her second goal under three minutes later.
Doyle wasn’t the only Hog to score in their debut. Forward Macy Schultz, a transfer from Texas Tech who missed last season due to injury, headed in a cross from sophomore defender Avery Wren in the 63rd minute.
Arkansas’ final goal came in the 89th minute thanks to forward Sabrina Jones, who redirected in a cross from Tankersley who picked up her second assist of the night.
The Hogs outshot JBU 39-3 for the match and held the Golden Eagles to just one shot in the first half. Joanna Long netted the visitor’s lone goal in the 58th minute.
Notes
- Arkansas improved to 10-3-0 in season openers under head coach Colby Hale
- The Hogs scored seven goals for the first time since 2021
- The Razorbacks utilized six goal scorers for the first time since 2021
- Ava Tankersley’s six points are a new career high
- The Hogs played three goalkeepers, with senior Peyton Whipple making her first career start
- 10 players made their Arkansas debut: Audrey Shackelford, Cora Hair, Macy Schultz, Anaiyah Robinson, Lily Boydstun, Jailyn Brownlee, Keegan Smith, Emma Parker, Kelsey Oyler and Kate Doyle
Up Next
Arkansas will take the weekend off and prepare for a trip to No. 13 Michigan State on Thursday, August 22. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m. CT and the match will air on B1G Network. The Spartans picked up a 2-1 road win at No. 15 Notre Dame to open their season.
For more information on Razorback Soccer, follow @RazorbackSoccer on social media.
