University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
4-0-3, 1-0SEC
Arkansas
3-3, 0-1SEC
Kupritz, Eckel Lead Vols Past Arkansas, 1-0
September 11, 2015 | Soccer
Sept. 11, 2015
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Ariel Kupritz scored in the 34th minute and Julie Eckel was magnificent in goal with her sixth shutout on the year to lead Tennessee to a 1-0 victory over Arkansas on Friday in its SEC opener at Razorback Field.
Tennessee (4-0-3) snapped its three-game losing streak against the Razorbacks (3-3-0). UT is now 12-4-1 all-time against Arkansas.
Eckel (4-0-3) made five saves on the night and punched away or intercepted numerous crosses inside the six-yard box. The fifth-year senior and Vols veteran back line of Susan Ferguson, Gabby Santorio, Kathryn Culhane and Emily Morrow withstood 18 Arkansas shots without breaking.
The Vols did a good job of containing Arkansas' leading goal scorer Ashleigh Ellenwood, limiting her to four off-target shots. The Tennessee defense has allowed just one goal in 690 minutes this season.
Arkansas' Cameron Carter (1-3-0) took the loss after giving up the lone goal and making one save.
The Vols broke through in the 34th minute when Kupritz took the ball to the top left side of the box, made a move to shake her defender and fired a rocket to the right upper 90 for the first goal of her career. Kupritz, who transferred to UT from Miami (Fla.) before the 2014 season and redshirted due to injury, had played 14 career matches without a goal entering Friday.
Tennessee returns to Regal Soccer Stadium on Sunday to host Belmont at 1 p.m. ET. That match will feature a live online video broadcast via SEC Network +/WatchESPN with Roger Hoover as the play-by-play announcer and VFL Tori Beeler Watson as the analyst. UTSports.com will host live stats and a live blog. Fans can also follow the action by following @Vol_Soccer on Twitter.
Team Stats
Ariel Kupritz (1)
Dribbled around defender shot from left
33:55
