Trojans Soccer Squad Unveils 2025 Schedule
After a strong finish in 2024, Little Rock soccer is again primed to compete for an Ohio Valley Conference championship.
The 2025 schedule was unveiled this week and includes 19 matches - 17 regular-season and two exhibitions.
"The goal of our nonconference schedule is to prepare us for the OVC, and I think it does just that," Little Rock head coach
Kelly Farrell said. "We play a good mix of teams that will challenge us in different ways and get us ready to compete for an OVC championship. The OVC is competitive top to bottom, so it's exciting knowing that each game will be a battle."
The season opens in less than a month with longtime, in-state rival Arkansas State set to play an exhibition on Thursday, Aug. 7. The match marks the first on a brand-new,
state-of-the-art playing surface.
"Every home game is exciting, but I am really looking forward to our exhibition against Arkansas State," Farrell said. "Even though it is just a 'friendly', it will be awesome playing on the new surface."
Another tune-up is scheduled at SWAC program Jackson State on Saturday Aug. 9.
The regular season begins Thursday, Aug. 14 at East Texas A&M in Commerce, Texas. On Sunday, Aug. 17, Little Rock travels just down the road to face Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
The Trojans' first home tilt is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 30 against rival Central Arkansas in the Governor's I-40 Showdown game.
"UCA as an instate rival is always a super-high energy game," Farrell said.
One of the tougher nonconference matchups may come on Thursday, Sept. 11 at Tulsa, Okla., against Oral Roberts. ORU advanced to the Summit League championship game a season ago as the league's No. 5 season upsetting No. 1 seed North Dakota State.
"[ORU] is well-coached, and organized, so that is always a challenging game," Farrell said. "I'm looking forward to every [nonconference match], though. It's a chance for us to grow and get better and be at the top of our game at the end of the season."
Little Rock opens the OVC season at Tennessee Tech on Sept. 21. After a final nonconference game at Missouri State on Thursday, Sept. 25, the Trojans play their first OVC home match on Sept. 28 against SIUE.
"There is a lot of parity in the OVC so it is competitive from top to bottom," Farrell said. "On any given day anyone can win. There are no easy games, but that makes it fun."
Little Rock does boast a veteran club with several key returners. Goal keeper
Peyton Urban looks to cap off her storied Trojans career after earning OVC Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2024. She was also voted Little Rock's Athlete of the Year at the annual TOP Awards banquet in the spring.
"I know she is primed for a big-time season," Farrell said.
Senior
Amaya Arias, a midfielder, and junior midfielder
Candice Kilderry earned All-OVC honors last fall. Farrell said she also has high expectations for senior captain midfielder
Serenity Thake.
Farrell signed eight players in the offseason, all freshmen, and look for some of them to make immediate contributions.
"I am excited about our incoming class," Farrell said. "They are a balanced group who I know will come in and raise the level of our program and compete right away. I am looking forward to getting them on campus and finally getting to work with them."
To view the entire schedule go
here.
