COOKEVILLE, TN. – Little Rock Women's Soccer is set to take the field in the semifinals of the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Championship on Thursday evening, taking on Lindenwood for the second straight match — this time with a trip to the conference title game on the line.
The Trojans enter the postseason as the No. 2 seed after an undefeated conference slate, finishing 5-0-4 in OVC play and 7-3-6 overall. The performance secured Little Rock its second consecutive top-two finish in the league standings and a first-round bye into the semifinal round.
Thursday's matchup comes just 11 days after the two sides last met in Little Rock, where the Trojans and Lions battled to a 1-1 draw on Senior Day. Amaya Arias put Little Rock ahead in the 76th minute before Lindenwood found the equalizer minutes later, setting the stage for another competitive meeting between two of the OVC's strongest defensive units.
Head coach Kelly Farrell shared her thoughts ahead of the rematch, saying, "I'm looking forward to our semifinal matchup against Lindenwood. It's always interesting when you meet a team for the second time, especially back to back. I know the team will be fired up for the game and I look forward to seeing us execute what we've trained the last week and a half."
Behind a veteran core, the Trojans have found their rhythm on both ends of the field this season. Arias, a First Team All-OVC midfielder, leads the attack alongside sophomore forward Maria Schuller, who ranks among the league's top scorers with 12 goals and 28 points. Between the posts, All-OVC goalkeeper Peyton Urban anchors a backline that has produced one of the best defensive records in the conference, allowing fewer than one goal per match.
Lindenwood, the defending OVC Tournament champion, advanced to the semifinals after a 1-0 win over SIUE in the quarterfinal round. The Lions enter Thursday's contest with momentum and familiarity, setting up a rematch that promises high intensity and postseason drama.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Cookeville, Tennessee. The winner will advance to Sunday's OVC Championship Final with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.
