LITTLE ROCK, AR. – More than 700 fans packed Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex on Thursday night as Little Rock Soccer celebrated the official ribbon cutting of its new turf field. The Trojans matched the energy of the night with a hard-fought 1-1 draw, giving the record crowd plenty to cheer about on a historic evening for the program.
The night began with a special ceremony marking the official unveiling of the new surface. Head coach Kelly Farrell was joined by a host of community and university leaders, including Mayor Frank Scott Jr., City Directors, Chancellor Christina Drale, UA System President Jay Silveria, members of the UA System Board of Trustees, Athletics Director Frank Cuervo, and the Coleman family, for whom the complex is named. Baldwin & Shell, the company responsible for installing the new turf, was also recognized for their work in bringing the project to life.
Mayor Scott highlighted the importance of the new facility to both the university and the broader community:
"We're so excited about Chancellor Drale's leadership and what they're doing to bring state-of-the-art facilities to the state capitol city. It's a big deal for sports, a big deal for the state capitol city, and we're grateful to see this type of thing, particularly right here in the Asher University area, an area that we're working to revitalize. I'm a UA Little Rock alumnus, and so very excited about getting to see this. Over the past couple of years, Chancellor Drale, myself, other leaders within the business community, have been working to revitalize Asher. The great work that's going on, the new development that UA Little Rock is doing across the entire campus, the University District Housing Association, as well as this new state-of-the-art facility. It shows the millions of dollars that are being cemented right here."
Head Coach Kelly Farrell also reflected on what the evening meant for the program:
"When I was hired four seasons ago, this project seemed like a dream, so I am especially grateful to those who turned it into a reality, namely Chancellor Drale, Frank Cuervo and all of the facilities staff both within athletics and on campus who put this plan into action. This upgrade has already helped to elevate our program and the players and I could not be more thrilled to have a top class training facility and home field."
On the field, the Trojans brought the energy from the stands straight into their play. In the 29th minute, senior forward Maria Schuller buried her fourth goal of the season, etching her name into the program's history books as the scorer on the ribbon-cutting night. Schuller proved dangerous throughout, finishing with five shots and three on goal.
Little Rock controlled much of the second half, outshooting their opponent 10-4, but the finishing touch for a game-winner didn't come. Still, the Trojans showed resilience and attacking promise, ending the night with 15 total shots and nine on frame.
Goalkeeper Peyton Urban kept the Trojans steady with four saves, while the backline and midfield turned in strong performances to limit chances. The night ended in a 1-1 draw, but the focus was on the celebration of progress, growth, and the future of Trojan Soccer.
Key Players
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Maria Schuller scored her fourth goal of the season and led the Trojans with five shots, three on target.
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Peyton Urban anchored the defense with four saves, continuing her strong form in goal.
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Amaya Arias played a full 90 minutes in midfield, showing leadership and composure.
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Maggie Turner added two shots in 73 minutes, creating pressure in the attacking third.
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Emily Nahon held down the backline with a full 90-minute performance.
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Candice Kilderry came off the bench to add two shots, including one on target.
Up Next
The Trojans travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma to play Oral Roberts University on September 11th at 6 p.m. They will then return to the Coleman Complex to take on the University of Tulsa and commemorate their seniors on September 14th at 12 p.m.
For the latest information on Little Rock Soccer, be 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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