FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Razorbacks opened SEC play with a 3-1 win over No. 19 Texas on Thursday night at Razorback Field.
Arkansas came into the night at 3-3-1 overall. Texas dropped to 5-2-1 with the loss and fell to 0-1-0 in SEC play.
The win did more than just start SEC play on a good note.
It stretched Arkansas’ home unbeaten streak against SEC teams to 27 matches.
That run goes back to Oct. 16, 2020.
Fast start gives Arkansas control
The Hogs didn’t wait long to get on the board. In the first 10 minutes, forward Lauren Van Rhein sent a pass back to forward Bella Field near the penalty spot.
Field ripped a sliding shot that clanged off the crossbar. Texas keeper Bayliss Flynn dove to try to stop it, but the ball bounced down off the bar and rolled into the net.
Arkansas doubled its lead in the 21st minute. Fifth-year midfielder Zoe Susi won a goal kick in the middle of the field and passed it to midfielder Kennedy Ball.
Ball slipped through four Texas defenders and gave the ball right back to Susi. Susi pulled Flynn off her line and drilled a shot down the middle from the penalty spot.
The Razorbacks weren’t done. They found a third goal in the 34th minute when sophomore midfielder Natalie Wagner flipped the field with a long pass into the front line.
After a Texas defender got a touch on the ball Ball found herself wide open just outside the 18-yard box. She chipped it over Flynn for her second goal of the year.
Arkansas held a 10-8 edge in shots at the break and goalkeeper Smith made four saves in the opening half.
Texas pushes back but can’t complete comeback
Texas came out with more energy after halftime. The Longhorns got on the board in the 55th minute when Ava McDonald found the net.
Texas outshot the Hogs 13-6 in the second half and forced four more saves out of Smith. Arkansas held on anyway to close out the win.
Defenders Kyndal Ewertz and Sabrina Jones did their job inside the box. The pair broke up several Texas chances near the goal in the second half.
Sophomore forward Vailana Tu’ua tried to add a fourth goal for Arkansas. She fired four shots after halftime but couldn’t find the back of the net again.
Susi now leads the Razorbacks with four goals this season. Ball’s assist on the third goal gave her a team-best four helpers on the year.
Thursday’s win was Arkansas’ first over a ranked opponent this season. The Hogs also improved to 25-0-2 against SEC teams at Razorback Field dating back to 2020.
Arkansas has now beaten Texas in both meetings since the Longhorns joined the SEC in 2024. That first matchup came in Austin where the Razorbacks won 4-3.
What’s next for Hogs
Arkansas stays on the road for SEC play next Friday, Sept. 18, when it visits No. 11 Alabama.
The Razorbacks will try to carry their SEC-opening win into that matchup.
