CONWAY, Ark. – At home again on Sunday, the Central Arkansas women's soccer team is set to battle the Arkansas State Red Wolves at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex. Looking to right the ship, the Bears kick off against the instate foe at 7 p.m.
 
Central Arkansas (0-3) will try to get rolling in the right direction after falling to Missouri State on Wednesday. After a tough first half, the Bears were able to show some promise in the second, matching the Bears from Springfield with six shots after halftime, but the home team just couldn't find the back of the net.
 
But the team is moving in the right direction, despite the results. After allowing 20-plus shots in each of the first two matches, Missouri State was held to 17. On the other side, the offense is still figuring things out after losing its top scorer from each of the last two seasons, then playing without fifth-year Sydney Brough on Wednesday. What that leaves is young, albeit talented, Bears up top; the four forwards with the most playing time on the field are all sophomores and freshmen.
 
Home games are the place to build that chemistry and focus, though. Central Arkansas has won at least four matches at home in each of the last three seasons, and has been .500 or better in each of those seasons.
 
Arkansas State enters the Sunday match 1-1 on the year after being forced to abandon its Thursday morning match with Jackson State due to excessive heat. Thus, the last complete match on the Red Wolves' schedule is a 4-1 win over Southern, a week ago come Sunday. Four Red Wolves scored, including a sixth-minute strike from Sarah Strong, jumping out quick on the Jaguars.
 
The four goals scored against Southern are the only ones in the record book for the 2023 season, with Arkansas State having been blanked in its season opener by Arkansas. The 6-0 final in Fayetteville saw the Razorbacks score four in the first half, coasting to the win. In goal, Damaris Deschaine has played all but 20 minutes this season, and has given up seven goals compared to 14 saves.
 
Match time against the Red Wolves on Sunday is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Bear Nation Network, and live stats will be available as well.