LITTLE ROCK - The Little Rock soccer team will play one more game on the road this weekend, heading up to Missouri State this Sunday with a 1:00 p.m. start. After falling to Central Arkansas in a tight match on Thursday, the first time the Trojans had seen action in nearly six months, the team is set to bounce back and seek out their first win of the 2020 season. Make sure to cheer on Little Rock from home as the game will be featured on ESPN3.
Coach's Preview
The Trojans will be using tomorrow's match as a final tune-up before Sun Belt conference play begins next week.
"We're really excited to have another game," said head coach Mark Foster. "Tomorrow we'll be looking to try to get more players on the field and try to see different girls in different positions and different formations just to try things out before conference starts. It's a good opportunity to experiment a little more and also make sure everyone has a chance to be prepared for conference play. The girls have been working so hard during preseason so I know we're going to give it our best."
Though tomorrow may see even more new faces step onto the pitch, keep an eye out for a few Trojans that set themselves up well last Thursday: freshman goalkeeper Saskia Wagner, who grabbed nine saves, the most since August 2018, Mari Young, a sophomore forward that placed both of her shots on goal, and the trio of Bergros Asgeirsdottir, Peyton Laughley and Morgan Smocovich, all seniors that played all 90 minutes.
A Glance at the Matchup
This Sunday will be the first time the Missouri State Bears hit the field this fall, as the Missouri Valley Conference has chosen to forgo fall conference sports and instead play in the spring of 2021. Currently, the all-time series is led by Missouri State, 15-6, but it is worth noting that all of Little Rock's wins have come within the last nine years. Last year, the Trojans were able to prevent a shutout at home thanks to a goal from Doro Greulich. The last time Little Rock played at Missouri State, the Trojans came away with a 1-0 win, which also happened to be Coach Foster's first victory at the helm of the program.
"We love their coaches at Missouri State," said Coach Foster. "When their league canceled in the fall, they said schools could still play nonconference games, and we wanted to keep the relationship going. We're looking forward to another competitive game against a Division 1 opponent. There are no easy games in our conference so we are grateful to play some tough ones before to get us ready."
For the latest information on Little Rock Soccer, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockSOC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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