FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Sophomore Alexandra Fischer collected a pair of goals to help the No. 23 Arkansas women’s soccer team to a convincing 3-1 victory over Utah State in front of the third-largest crowd in Razorback Field history (1,517) on Friday night.

Fischer’s first goal came in the 11th minute, as the duo of Ashleigh Ellenwood and Claire Kelley helped give the Plano, Texas native her fourth career goal. Ellenwood sent a long throw in into the box and Kelly flicked a cross through a crowd to find the foot of Fischer, who blasted the ball into the back of the net to give the Razorbacks a 1-0 lead.

The trio would hook up again in 78th minute with an almost identical sequence, as this time Kelley would head an Ellenwood throw in into the box to find a wide-open Fischer, who took a touch and placed the ball into the right corner of the goal past the keeper to give a 2-0 advantage to the No. 23-ranked team in the country.

The Razorbacks added their third goal just six minutes later, as Lindsey Mayo scored off of Tyler Allen’s free kick.

Arkansas was unable to keep USU off the board, as Utah State’s Taryn Rose scored off a set piece from 25-yards out in the 89th minute to end any hope of a Razorbacks’ home-opening shutout victory. 

Arkansas will be back in action on Sunday night, as they complete their season-opening, two-game home stand with a matchup against regional rival, Oklahoma State. Sunday’s matchup will be a rematch of a 2013 NCAA Tournament first round contest, in which Arkansas defeated the Cowgirls 2-1 in Stillwater, Okla., to give the program its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.

The Razorbacks will be attempting to break Razorback Field attendance record on Sunday night, as they try to surpass the current mark of 1,709 set against South Carolina back on Oct. 12, 2001. The game will be featured on the SEC Network+, which will be available through ESPN3.com and the Watch ESPN app. Kick-off is set for 7:05 p.m.

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

Coach Hale Postgame Sound
“I thought we put in a good 90 minutes and were able to play a lot of people. We outshot them 17-2, so defensively I thought we did a good job of limiting their chances. We were a little disappointed that we didn’t get the shutout, but overall it was a good first game.”

Post-Game Notes

• Arkansas improves to 2-1-0 as a ranked team
• The Razorbacks improve to 2-0 all-time vs. Utah State
• Arkansas improves to 17-11-1 all-time in season openers
• Arkansas improves to 19-10-0 in home openers
• The Razorbacks have now won eight straight season openers (2007-present)
• The three goals scored tonight are the most by Arkansas in a season opener since 2005 (5 goals vs. Tulsa in 5-1 win on Aug. 26)
• Tonight’s win improves the Razorbacks season-opening record at home to 9-2-0 and 7-1-0 at Razorback Field
• Arkansas is now 15-7-1 in 23 home games under head coach Colby Hale and 99-86-14 all-time in home games
• Alexandra Fischer’s two goals is the first multi-goal game of her career, and are the fourth and fifth goals she has collected in 22 career games played.
• Claire Kelley collected her first multi-assist game of her career, handing out her third and fourth career assist
• Ashleigh Ellenwood’s two assists tonight gives her 50 points in her career, making her just the 10th Razorback player in program history to reach that feat.
• Ellenwood collected her second career multi-assist game. The first also came against Utah State in last year’s 3-2 win in Provo, Utah on Sept. 13. The two assists gives her 10 in her career
• Lindsay Mayo’s goal tonight is the seventh of her career
• Tyler Allen’s assist is the 12th of her career
• Tonight’s official attendance of 1,517 is the third highest attended game in program history