Arkansas soccer coach Colby Hale is already looking ahead to the 2026 campaign, a season that promises to build on the program’s recent SEC regular‑season championship.
The Razorbacks return a healthy core of veterans while integrating a group of newcomers that the coaching staff believes is ready to contribute immediately.
Preseason expectations have the team slated second in the SEC coaches’ poll, behind Vanderbilt, a positioning that fuels both motivation and a sense of understated confidence.
Exhibition schedule and preparation
Before the first official match, Arkansas will play two exhibition fixtures, beginning with a July 15 showdown against Kansas City and concluding with an August 12 encounter versus Baylor.
Hale has stressed that these games are not about immediate results but about honing process and consistency, a philosophy that will guide the team’s preparation for tougher non‑conference opponents.
Among the returning standouts, senior midfielder Olivia Platt led the offense last year with nine goals and five assists, while Ashley Koch added six goals and seven assists, providing a potent attacking duo.
Midfielder Aniyah Nurse‑Whyte echoed the sentiment, noting a noticeable lift in energy and performance compared with the previous season.
Memphis, the team that finished the regular season undefeated with a positive goal difference despite being outshot, presents a formidable challenge; their top returnee, Ai Kitigawa, contributed ten goals and five assists.
The exhibition matches will also serve as a preview of Arkansas’s upcoming non‑conference slate, which includes contests against Baylor, North Carolina and Clemson, all of which advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year.