The Razorbacks wrapped up their non-conference schedule in style Friday night, blanking Jackson State 5-0 at Razorback Field.
Arkansas moved to 2-3-1 on the year while the Tigers dropped to 0-5-0.
It didn’t take long for the Hogs to get rolling.
Two different players scored in the final four minutes and midway through the match to put this one out of reach well before the final whistle.
Forward Ivy Harding capped the scoring with her first collegiate goal with four minutes left in regulation.
Paige Szymanski set up the finish, giving her a hand in multiple goals on the night.
Arkansas needed a spark in the second half after a slower start, and forward Vailana Tu’ua provided it.
She beat two Jackson State defenders and fired from just outside the six-yard box in the 76th minute for her first goal of the season, pushing the lead to 4-0.
Susi’s early burst set the tone
Midfielder Zoe Susi did the heavy lifting in the opening minutes.
She opened the scoring in the 12th minute on a free kick from outside the 18-yard box, then struck again five minutes later off a pass from Kennedy Ball.
That second shot deflected off a Jackson State defender’s leg before rolling into the net.
Defender Avery Wren also got in on the action before the break.
Her free kick from the SEC logo found Ball who redirected it toward the six-yard box where Szymanski put it away for a 3-0 halftime lead.
Arkansas controlled the match from start to finish on the stat sheet.
The Hogs led 15-1 in shots and 4-1 in corner kicks at the half alone while Jackson State keeper Kianah Farmer kept busy with six saves.
By the final whistle Arkansas had piled up 33 shots to Jackson State’s four and forced nine saves from the Tigers’ defense.
Freshmen goalkeepers Emily Jenkins and Julia Ivanova split time in net and combined for the shutout.
Razorbacks turn attention to SEC play
The non-conference finale gives Arkansas some momentum heading into the toughest stretch of the schedule.
SEC play opens on Thursday, September 10, when the Razorbacks host Texas at Razorback Field.
That matchup will look a lot different from Friday’s lopsided win.
Conference games tend to be tighter and more physical and Texas figures to test an Arkansas team that just found its scoring touch.
For now the Hogs can enjoy a clean sweep of the non-conference slate.
Five different contributors factored into the goals on Friday and that kind of depth could matter once league play gets going.
