Soccer Preview and Gamethread: Arkansas

Vanderbilt gets to their second SEC soccer match undefeated but also winless. They have not conceded a goal against conference opposition but also failed to score. The 0-0 draw with LSU was a disappointing result, especially after LSU was down to 10 players after a straight red card for a nasty, lunging tackle in the 84^th minute.

Coach Darren Ambrose made some interesting tactical decisions that may have undone the attacking chemistry. To my eye, it appeared that the normal 3-5-2 was morphed into a 4-4-2 except it basically became a 3-5-2 in the attack because the outside backs were getting upfield while the defensive midfielder was operating as a 3^rd center back. It was an odd decision to have the first meaningful game minutes with these tweaks being the first match of SEC play. These tactics may have been used at the end of a couple decisive out of conference wins where I had stopped paying attention to tactics because the game was so in hand.

The tactics appear to have worked, especially defensively. LSU got off 9 shots but only 3 of them were put on target. Vanderbilt attempted 15 shots and put 8 on frame. The Commodores also had a very slight possession advantage, but the vast majority of the match was played in the middle half of the field. When Vanderbilt could get into the final 30 yards of the field, that is where the tactical change had a negative impact. The passing and movement just never got together consistently. It was most obvious with freshman midfielder Reagan Pentz attempting a handful of threw balls that normally result in opportunities for teammates that fizzled with no danger.

Nothing really stands out in the box score. It was good to see Maci Teater back from injury for 50 minutes of action.

The Commodores hit the road for this evening’s contest as they head to Fayetteville, Arkansas. The #10/#16 Razorbacks are 3-2-2 (1-0-0) on the season. They opened the season with a 3-2 loss and a 2-2 draw against Top 15 opponents Iowa and Notre Dame. A 2-0 win over Georgia Southern was followed by a 2-0 loss to #3 Duke before finally going on the road and earning a #1-0 win over #11 BYU. A 3-3 draw at Creighton ended their non-conference schedule, and a 3-2 win in Gainesville started their SEC slate on a good note.

Last season, Arkansas was 16-2-3 (8-1-1). Like Vanderbilt, they would reach the Sweet 16 and lose. The program then had to deal with a ton of losses in the offseason. Only 24 of their incredible 71 goals scored in 2024 returned to the 2025 roster. The playmaking had a little more retention at 38 out of 77. The biggest losses were Ava Tankersley’s 12 goals and 9 assists, Kate Doyle’s 13 goals and 6 assists, Anaiyah Robinson’s 11 goals and 1 assist, and Kelsey Oyler’s 9 assists. The Razorbacks do have accomplished goalscorers back in Bella Field and Makenzie Malham. Field scored 6 goals while assisting on 7 more goals while Malham had a quartet each of goals and assists. The expectations would have been that those two would be fed by Kennedy Ball, Zoe Susi, and Avery Wren who each had 5 assists a season ago.

Instead of finding one or two players to replace the firepower lost, it has been a committee approach. Only Susi, Kyndal Ewertz, and Vailana Tu’ua have 2 goals while 7 Razorbacks have scored once. Ball is the only player with multiple assists at 3. The three-headed monster has not been easy to replace.

In good news for Arkansas’s turnover, Oyler was the only player lost from the back line. Even better, 20-match starter Keegan Smith is back in goal for her sophomore season. Smith allowed 12 goals over 1,748 minutes for a 0.618 GAA with a 0.844 SV%. It was a sensation freshman season that has not been followed up quite so impressively with 9 goals allowed in 540 minutes for a 1.500 GAA from a 0.757 SV%.

Arkansas is clearly not the same team they were a year ago. That squad came to Nashville and won 2-0. The Commodores could be poised to flip that script. Hopefully, the miscues against LSU will convince Coach Ambrose to stay with the normal systems, but he does have a tendency to tinker and twist for big games. Sometimes it works. Others, it can get messy.

Tonight’s match kicks off from Razorback Field at 6:30 PM Central time. It will be streamed on SEC Network+. Facing a ranked team on the road that is still trying to sort out their attack is a prime spot to show how good the Commodores are. Vanderbilt should be able to simply play its style of game and leave with their first conference win of the season.