LR Set to Open Season With Northwestern State, UCA

Game 1: Little Rock vs. Northwestern St.
Date	Friday, August 19
Time	7 p.m.
Location	Little Rock, Ark.
Stadium	Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex
Stats	Statbroadcast
Video	Little Rock All-Access
Notes	Little Rock

LITTLE ROCK – After nearly 300 days without Little Rock soccer, the Trojans are finally back in action on Friday night when Northwestern State comes to the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex at 7 p.m.
 
At this first Little Rock athletic event of the year, the Trojans are asking all fans to come out and #CrowdColeman to try to break the Complex's attendance record set in 2014.
Fans will have the opportunity to dine with four different food trucks present at the game, and the first 100 students will be provided a free food truck meal. The Trojans will also honor past alumni during halftime of the team's game against the Demons, and Little Rock soccer gear will be sold at the game as well.

 

Game 2: Little Rock at UCA
Date	Sunday, August 21
Time	7 p.m.
Location	Conway, Ark.
Stadium	Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex
Stats	UCA Live Stats
Video	UCA Live Streaming
Notes	Little Rock

One of the deepest teams in Little Rock soccer history will take the field against Northwestern State, as the Trojans return all 11 starters from 2015, 20 players total from 2015 and lost no seniors to graduation last year. A roster of 29 will look to better their finish from last season when the team earned the No. 5 seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, its highest-ever finish.

Little Rock is also coming off back-to-back winning seasons, the Trojans' first winning seasons since the 1980s.
 
Shannon Shields led the Trojans last year with 17 points on six goals and five assists, and Little Rock returns all but two players on the 2015 roster who contributed any goals or assists to the team's total.  Midfielder Caitlyn Eddy was named to the Sun Belt's Preseason All-League Team on Tuesday, and forwards Fali Garuba and Quin Wilkes are back after combining for nine goals in their sophomore years.                                                
 
On the defensive side of the ball, there will be plenty of familiar faces for the Trojans including senior Hali Long. Long spent part of her summer playing soccer for the Philippines National Team in the AFF Women's Championship in Myanmar.
 
In net, Sara Small returns after setting a Trojan record with 6.1 shutouts in her junior year and now holding the team's career goals against average record with a stellar 1.02.
 
Northwestern State finished the 2015 season with a 5-9-4 record and finished 10th in the Southland Conference. Little Rock defeated the Demons when the teams last met in 2014.
 
After the season opener on Friday, the Trojans head right down the road Sunday to take on Central Arkansas. UCA placed seventh in the Southland last season. The Trojans beat the Bears 1-0 at the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex last year and are 6-1 all-time against UCA.