| GAME 1 - UA PINE BLUFF |
| Date |
Thursday, Aug. 19 - 4 p.m. |
| Location |
Pine Bluff, Ark. |
| Stadium |
Pumphrey Soccer Complex |
| Records (2020) |
Little Rock (4-7-3, 3-3-2 SBC)
UAPB (4-9, 1-7 SWAC) |
| Live Stats |
UAPBLionsRoar |
| Twitter |
@LittleRockSOC |
LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock opens its 2021-22 athletic season Thursday afternoon, making the short trip down to Pine Bluff to face UA-Pine Bluff at 4 p.m. at Pumphrey Soccer Complex. Live stats of the match are available through
UAPBLionsRoar.com.
Year Four For Foster
Little Rock head coach
Mark Foster begins his fourth season at the helm of the Trojans Thursday, boasting an overall record of 22-20-13 (.518). His .518 winning percentage ranks second in program history behind Logan Fleck's .540 mark from 1987-88, as he also boasts an overall conference mark of 12-9-7 (.554), the highest conference winning percentage in program history.
Against the Golden Lions
Little Rock is 10-1 (.909) all-time against its neighbors to the south, including an eight-game winning streak dating back to 2011. The Trojans have outscored the Golden Lions 41-3 during that span and are 1-1 all-time in Pine Bluff, defeating UAPBÂ 9-0 in 2006 before falling 2-1 in 2010. The last meeting between the two teams was on August 26, 2018 - a 7-0 Trojan victory in Little Rock.
Returning Firepower
Little Rock will have the benefit of veteran experience in 2021, returning eight starters and 14 letterwinners from the 2020 campaign.
Mariella Stephens is the top returner in both goals (three) and points (six), with
Abril Lucio adding a pair of goals in 2020 and
Bergros Asgeirsdottir notching three assists.
Mari Young was the top shooting threat for Little Rock, taking a team-high 31 shots with 14 on goal.
Depth in Goal
One of the strengths of Little Rock's 2021 squad is in net as goalkeeper
Saskia Wagner returns after starting all 14 games in 2020, allowing a 1.06 goals against average and making 67 saves, en route to four shutouts. She will be backed up by freshman
Paige Henry and junior
Emily Samisch, both of which saw action in exhibition matches, as well as senior
Hilma Svalander, who has experience in net during her Trojan career.
Last Time Out
Little Rock notched a 1-0 exhibition victory over Northwestern State at Coleman Sports Complex Sunday, coming off a rebound goal from
Vanessa Eklund in the 40th minute. The Trojans outshot the Demons 7-3, including a 4-2 edge in shots on goal, with a pair of saves in net for Henry in 60 minutes of action.
#LittleRocksTeam
