Fuller Birch
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – After making its first Elite 8 appearance in program history, second-seeded Arkansas fell to top-seeded Rutgers in penalty kicks, 2(4)-2(2).
The shootout was the first for Arkansas since dropping to LSU in the SEC Tournament Championship Game in 2018.
How it Happened
The Scarlet Knights struck quickly, taking the lead two minutes into the match. Riley Tiernan hurled a left-footed shot from the top of the 18-yard box and past the hands of Arkansas goalkeeper Hannah Warner for the score.
The Hogs responded six minutes later after a volley from forward Anna Podojil found the back of the net. Sophomore Kiley Dulaney brought the ball down to the top of the penalty box, where she dumped it off to senior Taylor Malham. Malham found Podojil in the middle of the box for her 16th goal of the season.
Defender Reagan Swindall gave Arkansas the lead in the 15th minute via Arkansas’ fourth corner kick of the match. Forward Parker Goins took the kick from the near side, sending it out to find Swindall’s head at the top of the six-yard box.
Rutgers tied the match back up with two minutes to spare in the first half. Tiernan found forward Amirah Ali open inside the box, where Ali fired across for her twelfth of the season.
Neither team scratched across another goal for the next 67 minutes, sending the match to penalty kicks.
The round lasted four kicks, with the Hogs going miss, make, miss and Rutgers winning with four makes.
The Scarlet Knights finished the match outshooting Arkansas 30-26.
Hear it From Coach Hale
“First, congrats to Rutgers. Losing in penalties is really awful. The players left it on the field and to go out like that just stinks. I couldn’t be more proud of the players. We went for it; we always will. I thought for a large portion of the match, we dictated the tempo. Our seniors had an incredible career, and this is just the start.”
For more information on Arkansas Soccer, follow @RazorbackSoccer on Twitter.
Box Score: https://bit.ly/3rbHrNF
Bracket: https://bit.ly/3qisDfN