Arkansas soccer star Ava Tankersley named first-team All-American

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas soccer’s Ava Tankersley, the back-to-back SEC Forward of the Year, became the soccer program’s eighth United Soccer Coaches All-American selection and the second to appear on the first team, the association announced Monday.

Tankersley is coming off her best season yet with 12 goals and nine assists (33 points) to lead Arkansas back to the Sweet 16. The Saint Peters, Mo. native started in all 21 matches this season and ranks tied for fourth in program history with 102 career appearances. The forward ranks among the program’s best in several career categories: T-No. 4 in Goals (38), T-No. 2 in Assists (32), No. 2 in Points (111), No. 7 in Game-Winning Goals (10), T-No. 4 in Games Played (102), No. 7 in Games Started (89).

Tankersley was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week three times this season and led the league in points (17), goals (7), points per game (1.70), and goals per game (.70), earning her the conference’s back-to-back choice as SEC Forward of the Year, the first player to do so since the award was created in 2019. Tankersley notched four multi-goal games and helped the Hogs tie the program record for most goals in a single season (71).

Aside from being an elite finisher, Tankersley showcased her ability as a key playmaker for the Razorbacks with a team-leading nine assists including important goals in the Hogs’ games against BYU, No. 24 South Carolina, LSU, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

Earlier this month, Tankersley joined Kiley Dulaney on the United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region team and she was named a MAC Hermann award semifinalist.

Anna Podojil was placed on the first team in 2020.

Photo courtesy of Razorbacks Communications