Freshmen show off their skills

HARLEY V. RATLIFF
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

FAYETTEVILLE -- Earlier this summer, Arkansas Coach Alan Kirkup said this year's freshman class could be the Lady Razorbacks' best.
Judging from Saturday evening's Arkansas-Alumni soccer match, Kirkup might be on to something.
Crystal Test, a freshman from Cincinnati, scored two second-half goals and nearly added another as the Lady Razorbacks beat the Alumni team 4-1 in front of 204 fans. Arkansas' other two goals also came from freshmen as Courtney Shaub and Megan Burke each scored in the first half.
Test registered both goals on assists from senior midfielder Michal-Lynn O'Kelley, beating goalkeeper Megan Bals on both occasions.
Kirkup said he was pleased with the overall performance of the team but didn't shy away from praising his eight freshmen, including Test, who he said should give the Lady Razorbacks a scoring threat on the front line.
"She is a natural finisher," Kirkup said. "That's something we didn't have a lot of last season."
After the game, Test praised O'Kelley, a senior, giving her credit for both goals.
"She won the ball in the midfield," Test said. "And she laid it off to me."
Test said she is starting to make the transition from the high school game to the college level.
"The biggest difference is the speed of the game," Test said. "Physically, I feel like I can handle myself. I think a lot of it is just being mentally prepared."
Test was one of a handful of freshmen who showed glimpses of things to come. Kirkup praised freshman midfielders Burke and Mandy Komar for their solid play, as well as keeper Lindsay Haywood.
Kirkup said the addition of the eight freshmen will give Arkansas something it hasn't had the past couple of seasons -- depth and in-house competition. He said he hopes the added pressure for starting spots will motivate returning players to a higher level of play.

This article was published on Sunday, August 20, 2000

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