NC State tops Arkansas in NCAA tourney opener

Arkansas’ postseason run came to an end Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament.

The Razorbacks lost 4-1 at North Carolina State, the program’s first opening-round loss in four appearances at the NCAA Tournament. Arkansas, which was runner-up at the SEC Tournament last week, finished the year with an 11-11-2 record.

“That is not how you drew it up and that is not what we expected,” Arkansas Coach Colby Hale said. “But at the same time, we made the fourth NCAA Tournament in program history.

“We’re not a moral victory team; we’ve said that all year. We come to play to win and I thought we were good enough to win.”

North Carolina State sophomore Tziarra King scored in the sixth minute to give the Wolfpack a 1-0 lead at halftime. King added another goal in the 50th minute, and NC State also had goals from Paige Griffiths and Kia Rankin to go ahead 4-0.

Arkansas’ only goal came by Stefani Doyle in the 81st minute on a breakaway to the far right post.

“We were opportunistic. I didn’t think we played too well today, though,” NC State Coach Tim Santoro said. “I guess that’s a sign of a good team to not be pleased after winning 4-1 against a team that just lost in the SEC final.”

NC State (15-5-1) will play Princeton in the second round of the tournament, a rematch from the Wolfpack’s only home loss earlier this season.

“We’re not a moral victory team; we’ve said that all year.” Arkansas Coach Colby Hale