Razorbacks blank North Texas, 3-0, in first round of NCAA Tournament

FAYETTEVILLE — No. 3-seed Arkansas (17-3-2, 8-1-1) shut out North Texas (15-6-1, 7-2-1) on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Razorback Field, 3-0.

The Razorbacks outshot the Mean Green by a 26-1 margin, with 10 of those shots finding the frame. Coming into tonight, North Texas was averaging 19.5 shots a game.

In the last three matches the Razorbacks have hosted in postseason play, they have outscored opponents 10-2 and are 18-1-2 at home the past two seasons.

This will be Arkansas’ second-straight season advancing to the second round and fifth all-time.

How it happened

• Marissa Kinsey put a corner to the far post in the 55th-minute as Tori Cannata was able to get her head on the end of it for the 1-0 Hog lead.

• In the 82nd-minute, Parker Goins put away a rebound after Mean Green ‘keeper Kelsey Brann couldn’t handle a long-range shot from Anna Podojil.

• Just two minutes later Kaelee Van Gundy netted her first goal of the season as she knocked in a bouncing ball from a Kinsey shot that deflected off the post.

Hear it from coach Hale

“Proud of our effort. We stayed with it. The press was excellent, and I thought our composure was good.”

Next up

The Razorbacks head to Provo, Utah, to face North Carolina State in a second-round matchup.

First kick is slated for 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21.

The Wolf Pack blanked Navy earlier in the night, 3-0. NC State made the semifinals of the ACC Tournament on Nov. 8, but eventually fell to North Carolina, 3-0.