FAYETTEVILLE — Three days after snapping the nation's longest home win streak, Arkansas gets a shot at the nation's No. 1 women's soccer team.
The Razorbacks (5-1-1) are scheduled to host No. 1 North Carolina on Sunday at noon at Razorback Field. The game will be televised by ESPNU.
The Tar Heels (7-0) were national runner-up last season and have the sport's most successful program with 22 national championships under 41st-year coach Anson Dorrance. Dorrance said he always expects his opponent's best shot when the Tar Heels come to town.
"We understand with our tradition that the teams we’re going to play are going to pay attention to us," Dorrance said. "What a wonderful position to where these teams will expend energy and play very well against us. That does nothing but serves us. We don’t get very many easy games. We usually get the other team’s best shot and that contributes to us. It hardens our kids and makes us better."
Arkansas enters Sunday's game on a four-game win streak. The Razorbacks defeated No. 22 Baylor 2-0 on Thursday in Waco, Texas, following a lengthy travel delay because of mechanical problems with the team's charter plane. The Bears had won 15 games in a row at home.
The Razorbacks have outscored their opponents 25-1 in regulation this year, including 21-0 during the four-game win streak. Arkansas goal keeper Katie Lund has 13 saves on 15 attempts against this season.
"She's been great," Arkansas coach Colby Hale said. "The back (of the defense has) as well.
"We're defending well as a group and protecting her well. She's not having to do too much, but then when she has to do something she gets it done."
North Carolina has won its seven games by a combined score of 23-2 and has six shutouts. Sophomore midfielder Brianna Pinto leads the team with six goals.
“I think we have a nice team,” Dorrance said. “I think we have some potential.”
Arkansas has had some success against highly-ranked teams at home under Hale. In 2016 the Razorbacks defeated No. 2 Duke and No. 4 Florida, and last season Arkansas defeated No. 2 Texas A&M.
This is the second time in three seasons a No. 1 team will play at Arkansas. No. 1 Penn State won 4-2 in Fayetteville in 2017.
The Razorbacks have never defeated a team ranked No. 1.
"We've done a pretty good job of building a winning culture and winning games," Hale said. "The more big games we can have, the more exposure we get.
"We have a chance to win this game, but win, lose or draw we're going to take a lot out of this."