FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Junior Ashleigh Ellenwood’s ricochet goal in the 88th minute gave the No. 23 University of Arkansas women’s soccer team a 2-1 win over Oklahoma State in front of a record-setting crowd (2,268) at Razorback Field on Sunday night.

With the game tied at 1-1, junior Tyler Allen took a corner kick that was punched out by the Cowgirls goalkeeper, finding a wide-open Ellenwood in front of the 18-yard box. The Michigan City, Ind., native settled the ball and placed it perfectly past a crowd in front of the goal to post the eighth game-winning score of her career.

The Razorbacks took no time getting on the scoreboard, tallying a goal just 64 seconds into the match. Shelby Payne sent a cross into the box and Claire Kelley knocked a header past the OSU keeper and into the left side of the goal. The score was Kelley’s first of the season and third of her career.

The teams would battle for the final 43:56 of the opening half with Arkansas taking a 1-0 lead into the locker room at the intermission. The Cowgirls outshot the Razorbacks 9-4 in the first half, while Arkansas won the corner kick battle 5-4 in the opening 45 minutes of play.

The 1-0 advantage would hold up for Arkansas until the 73rd minute, when Oklahoma State’s Madison Mercado scored the equalizer in front of the 18-yard box. OSU’s Allie Stephenson played the ball to Mercado, and after a pair of touches in front of the penalty area, she blasted a shot into the upper right-hand corner of the goal to give the Cowgirls their first goal of the season.

The Razorbacks would tally their second goal of the game 16 minutes later. Tyler Allen set up for a crucial corner kick in the 88th minute. The ensuing cross was punched out by the Oklahoma State goalkeeper, but it would be an ill-fated punch-out, as it landed in front of Arkansas forward Ashleigh Ellenwood with space in front of her. Ellenwood collected the ricochet and blasted a shot into the left side of the goal to give her team a 2-1 win.   

Ellenwood’s first goal of the year was the eighth game-winning goal of her career and her 21st overall score.

Oklahoma State collected eight more shots than the Razorbacks (19-11), but were only outshot by two in shots on goal (9-7). Arkansas won the corner kick battle 7-6 and recorded more saves than OSU, as sophomore Cameron Carter tallied a season-high eight saves in goal.

The Razorbacks will now prepare for their first roadtrip of the 2014 season. Arkansas will head to Austin, Texas to battle the Longhorns of Texas (Aug. 29) and the Lady Jacks of Stephen F. Austin (Aug. 31) in the Texas Tournament.

For more information on Arkansas soccer, follow @RazorbackSoccer on Twitter.

Coach Hale Postgame Sound
"The team just grinds. It wasn't our best performance as you could tell. Our legs were a little bit heavy. Opening weekend, we had two tough games. That's just this team; they just win. Whether a good performance, ugly, pretty. That game was just a gutted out, grind win. That's what this team does special."

On scoring early - "You never can never score too early. People say that but you want to score as often as you can. Whenever you can, you take them. Great goal by Claire Kelley. I did think there was a lull. I thought after the goal, we kind of settled in and they may have been the better team the rest of the half. This team just grinds.

On the crowd - "This was a soccer atmosphere, a soccer culture. When they started cheering and chanting, it gives you that little extra you need to win the game."

Ashleigh Ellenwood Postgame Sound

"It was a great service from Tyler Allen. My teammates made all the right runs. I'm just proud of what we have accomplished this weekend, getting two wins and the great fans. It's just awesome."

On the fans - "It's so important to have fan support. We have tried to promote a lot and to have people come out to our games is amazing. That's the reason we won twice this weekend."

Post-Game Notes

• Tonight’s official attendance of 2,268 is the highest attended game in program history, breaking the previous attendance record of 1,709 set on Oct. 10, 2001 against South Carolina
• With the 2,268 fan turn out tonight and the 1,517 official attendance on Friday night, this weekend’s total attendance of 3,785 marks the biggest turnout in a two-game weekend stretch at Razorback Field
• Arkansas improves to 2-5-0 all-time against Oklahoma State
• The Razorbacks have now collected back-to-back wins against OSU after going winless in their first five meetings
• Tonight’s win gives Arkansas its third straight 2-0-0 start
• The 2-1 win for the Razorbacks gives them their first win over Oklahoma State in Fayetteville
• Arkansas improves to 3-1-0 all-time as a ranked team
• Tonight’s win is the 100th win at Razorback Field, the overall record is now 100-86-14
• The Razorbacks are now 16-7-1 in 24 home games under head coach Colby Hale
• Ashleigh Ellenwood’s game-winning goal marks the eight of her career and the first of this season
• Ellenwood’s goal is also her first of the season and the 21st of her career
• Tonight’s goal, accompanied with Friday’s two assists, gives Ellenwood four points in two games on the year
• Claire Kelley’s goal 1:04 into the game is the quickest scored goal of the year for Arkansas
• The goal is the first of the season and the third of her career
• Kelley’s goal gives her four points on the weekend

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