UNT Women’s Soccer vs Arkansas in the 1st Round

[Big Z]

Going to tough, but let’s hope we can catch a break!

[MeanGreenTexan]

No doubt punishment for some losses early in the year against some other tournament teams: South Florida, Tech, & Memphis, and some head-scratchers like Alabama & UAB.

Thankfully, those losses (with the exception of UAB) were early-season struggles gelling.  Thankfully, they came together nicely in conference play and look to be playing their best soccer right now.   Arkansas will have their hands full.

Go Mean Green!

[TheColonyEagle]

Where? When do we get TV info?

[THOR]

north texas has a history of beating arkansas...basketball may do it tomorrow as well

[NorthTexasSportsNetwork]

2 hours ago, TheColonyEagle said:

Where? When do we get TV info?

In Fayettevile and probably on SECN or ESPN

[UNTLifer]

How in the hell do we end up with the #6 ranked team in the country and #3 seed in the tournament as our first round opponent?

Edited November 12, 2019 by UNTLifer

[Mean Green Matt]

1 hour ago, UNTLifer said:

How in the hell do we end up with the #6 ranked team in the country and #3 seed in the tournament as our first round opponent?

Hard to explain.  We ended the year with an RPI of 47.  Granted, RPI is not the end all be all, but we also have been in this 3 years in a row.  It is time they show us a little respect, but it might take winning one of these to actually get it.

Of the 64 teams, we have the 43rd highest RPI which would suggest a 10 or 11 seed.  It should be noted that in soccer there are more regional considerations than in basketball and technically only the top 16 are seeded.  We have the second best RPI of any team facing a 3 seed (the lone exception being Iowa at #45 RPI facing Kansas).  Last year was an even bigger travesty when we had to face a top 10 team despite our RPI of 30.  We took that top 10 team to double OT before losing.

Back to this year, 3 of the teams playing a 4 seed have an RPI OVER 100.  The exception being Pepperdine one spot ahead of us at 46. TCU at #55 in RPI gets a cushy game against #40 RPI Arizona.  Lipscomb at #112 RPI gets #28 Louisville. #224 Northern Colorado gets #43 Colorado. These are the most egregious examples of teams that got a much better draw.

We are just going to have to win one of these and maybe the committee will quit doing this to us.

 

[Mean Green Matt]

Also, 35 of the top 36 teams in RPI got into the field. The lone exception was FAU at #32. 

[blurbeard]

Great info Matt! #47 UNT playing the sixth best team in the country and #32 FAU not even in the tournament shows no respect towards CUSA!

Yes I agree we’re going to have to win one of these but much easier to have #55 TCU’s draw (Arizona) then playing the team that beat #1 UNC 2-0 in Fayetteville during the year!

[TheColonyEagle]

Another way to look at it from Arkansas' point of view:

"Why did the #6 team in the nation draw North Texas in the first round?! We should have an easier opponent!"

 

[meanJewGreen]

We havent scored a goal yet in the tournament.... hope this is the year it happens. 

[MeanGreenTexan]

9 minutes ago, meanJewGreen said:

We havent scored a goal yet in the tournament.... hope this is the year it happens. 

Peters is in top form (top 20 in goals), and Byrd is improving game by game.   Both have an incredible nose for the goal.

Arkansas' keeper is a transfer from TCU who is in the top 10 for save%.   So they're going to be challenged to find the net for sure.

[blurbeard]

4 hours ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

Peters is in top form (top 20 in goals), and Byrd is improving game by game.   Both have an incredible nose for the goal.

Arkansas' keeper is a transfer from TCU who is in the top 10 for save%.   So they're going to be challenged to find the net for sure.

6’1 GK but still think we have the better keeper! Arkansas roster is full of 6’0, 5’11 and 5’10 players...huge team! Saw a stat where this team is #1 in the country on set pieces scoring 19 goals this year...to me that is the key to the game!