The Arkansas soccer team, led by head coach Colby Hale, made an exciting announcement on Friday by welcoming two new transfers to their roster. Forward Kate Doyle, who previously played for Gonzaga, brings her impressive career stats to the Razorbacks. With 16 goals, 12 assists, and 44 points during her time at Gonzaga, Doyle is known for her game-winning abilities, scoring six such goals during her career.
Despite encountering an injury-shortened season in 2023, Doyle managed to net seven goals in just six games. She had previously tallied three goals and six assists in 2022, earning an All-West Coast Conference Honorable Mention. Additionally, she was named to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team in 2021. In a statement released through the Arkansas athletics department, Doyle expressed her excitement about the opportunity to play for a top-tier team like Arkansas and to challenge herself to compete at this high level.
Another new addition to the Razorbacks is freshman midfielder Audrey Shackelford, who arrived from Utah with a solid background playing for San Juan SC in the Elite Club National League. Shackelford’s talent was recognized as she was named an ECNL All-Conference player. In a similar sentiment to Doyle, Shackelford emphasized her decision to join Arkansas due to the winning mentality and competitive environment that the program offers. She praised the coaches’ ability to push her to excel both on the field and as a person.
Arkansas had an impressive 15-5-2 season last year, making it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before being edged out by Pitt. The team continued to showcase their talent during the spring exhibition schedule, going undefeated at 3-0-1, culminating in a 2-2 draw against Baylor on April 14th. With these new transfers on board, the Razorbacks are surely looking to make even more waves in the upcoming season.