A trip to the Conference USA semifinals last season gave the SMU women’s soccer team confidence heading into 2011.

On Friday night, the Mustangs opened up the regular season against Arkansas, but things did not go exactly as planned.

In a matter of five minutes, the Razorbacks scored two goals and held off a second half SMU rally to take the opener 2-1.

Mustangs Head Coach Brent Erwin felt his squad played great soccer for 85 minutes but some unfortunate situations in the middle of the first half led to the heartbreaking defeat.

Through the first 17 minutes, SMU controlled the game and had numerous chances of scoring with four shots on goal.

However, in the 18th minute Arkansas’ Beth Straton miraculously buried the ball in the back of the net from 35 yards out.

The ball sailed just above SMU goalkeeper Courtney Webb’s fingertips and stayed just under the cross to give Arkansas a shocking 1-0 lead.

Unfortunately for the Mustangs, the Razorbacks weren’t done just yet.

In the 23rd minute Kelly Anders scored an easy goal after a perfect cross from Jeri Ann Okoro to give Arkansas a commanding 2-0 lead.

Overcoming the two goal deficit would prove to be too much for SMU.

The Mustangs closed the gap in the 66th when freshmen Rikki Clarke scored her first career goal and cut the lead in half after a shot by Mallory Baum bounced off the crossbar.

But the Mustangs were never able to find the equalizer despite outshooting the Razorbacks 12-5 in the second half and holding a nine shot advantage through 90 minutes of action.

SMU will begin their home slate against Stephen F. Austin on Monday at 7 p.m.