No. 11 Hogs Host No. 9 Alabama for SEC Home Opener

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 11 Arkansas (5-2-1) will take on No. 9 Alabama (6-0-4) on Thursday night for the first 2023’s first SEC match at Razorback Field. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and the match will be streamed on SEC Network Plus with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Kelly Hellbusch (analyst) on the call.

The Crimson Tide are the highest-ranked team to play in Fayetteville since the Hogs faced No. 5 Texas A&M came to town in 2020.

The Razorbacks and Tide will meet for the thirtieth time on Thursday. The two programs met in a top-10 matchup last season in Tuscaloosa. Then No. 2 Alabama defeated then No. 7 Arkansas, 2-1, with a late penalty kick.

Thursday’s match will be a white out. The first 1,000 fans will receive a white pom. The first 250 students will get a student section, the Hale Storm, t-shirt

Alabama Match Info

Opponent: No. 9 Alabama (6-0-4)

First Kick: 6:30 p.m. CT

Streaming: SEC Network+, Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Brian Kelly Hellbusch (analyst)

Links: All match links can be found here all season long.

Scouting the Crimson Tide

The Tide’s non-conference slate included two top-25 ranked opponents as the program defeated No. 17 Memphis (W, 2-0) and tied No. 3 North Carolina (T, 1-1). Alabama also enters the week with a tie against No. 23 Georgia (T, 1-1) in the team’s SEC opener. Alabama is coming off a 5-1 win against Mercer with all five goals coming in the first half of the game. The Tide holds a 17-5 scoring advantage through 10 games and has shut out five teams this season.

Alabama is led by forward Gianna Paul who has scored a goal in seven games this season, including all three top-25 matchups, which ties her at first in the SEC and 20th nationally.

Last Time Out

The Hogs closed out non-conference play with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Grand Canyon on Sunday. All three goals were scored in the final minutes of their respective halves, two in the last two minutes of the second half by Anna Podojil and Zoe Shepherd, and one with 13 seconds to play by Bella Field. Shepherd’s and Field’s goals were the first of their careers.

Two Hogs, Field and midfielder Bea Franklin earned weekly honors. Field was named SEC Freshman of the Week for netting the game-winner against Grand Canyon. Franklin earned a spot on College Soccer News’ national team of the week and an honorable mention on TopDrawerSoccer’s national team of the week for netting two goals against Tennessee and assisting in Field’s goal.

Quick Kicks

• The Hogs enter week six ranked No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 17 in TopDrawerSoccer’s poll.
• Arkansas will look to extend its 26-match home unbeaten streak, which dates back to 2021.
  • The Hogs have gone 24-0-2 at Razorback Field since beating No. 25 BYU on Aug. 30, 2021.
• Dating back to 2016, Arkansas is 61-9-4 at Razorback Field
• Arkansas has had 13 players score its 24 goals in 2023. Five of the 13 have come off the bench and two of the 24 goals were netted by goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde.
• Graduate senior Anna Podojil enters the week six as the DI leader in points (125) and ranks second in goals (47).
• Podojil was named to United Soccer Coaches Forwards to Watch list and TopDrawerSoccer’s Preseason Best XI Third Team and the No. 29 player on their preseason top 100 watch list.
• Podojil, Ellie Podojil, Bea Franklin, Kiley Dulaney, Ava Tankersley and Makenzie Malham joined the SEC Preseason Watch List

Up Next

The Hogs will continue SEC play at Texas A&M (4-3-2) on Sunday. First touch is set for 6 p.m. and the match will be streamed on SEC Network Plus.

For more information on Arkansas Soccer, follow @RazorbackSoccer on Twitter.