The Arkansas Razorbacks soccer program began official preseason practice this week, signaling the start of preparations for the 2026 campaign. Coach Colby Hale greeted the squad with a simple but telling phrase: the team is hungry.
Hale’s comment follows the Razorbacks’ SEC regular‑season championship in 2025, a breakthrough that has raised expectations for the upcoming year. The coaching staff has elected to retain the core of that successful side, keeping five of the program’s top goal scorers on the roster.
Among those returning are Vailana Tu’ua, Kennedy Ball, Zoe Susi, Bella Field and Kyndal Ewertz, each of whom contributed heavily to the 2025 offensive surge. Their presence provides continuity and a clear sense of purpose as the squad moves into exhibition play.
A Hungry Roster
The returning front‑line talent includes Vailana Tu’ua, Kennedy Ball, Zoe Susi, Bella Field and Kyndal Ewertz, while midfielders Keegan Smith and Makenzie Malham, defenders Cora Hair and Jaylin Brownlee, and forwards Kate Carter, Presley Marvil, Avery Wren, Deijonee Anderson, and Natalie Wagner add depth and versatility to the lineup.
Midfielder Aniyah Nurse‑Whyte is slated to represent Canada at the U‑20 World Cup in Poland this September. She recently made her senior debut for the Canadian U‑20 side in a victory over Costa Rica, underscoring the international reach of the Razorbacks program.
The NCAA has approved a new five‑for‑five eligibility rule that will take effect in the 2026‑27 academic year. Coach Hale has voiced support for the measure, though he has not yet discussed its details with his current roster.
In parallel, the NCAA men’s soccer oversight committee voted to shift the sport’s calendar to a fall‑to‑spring format beginning in 2027‑28. Hale, however, has indicated no interest in altering the women’s schedule, preferring to keep the current structure for the Razorbacks.
With the new eligibility framework and a revised national calendar on the horizon, the Razorbacks are poised to translate preseason momentum into a season that could redefine their place in college soccer.