(May 7, 2021) Mena, Arkansas – Coming off a win this past Sunday, the Bucks looked to continue their momentum going toward the Region 2 Tournament. The Bucks wrapped up their regular season at Bearcat Stadium this afternoon against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
The Bucks would score twice within the first four minutes of the match. At 1:59, Trev Lewis (Kitchener, Ontario) deflected a ball off the NEO defender that found the back of the net. Less than a minute and a half later, Trev scored again on an assist from Daniel Perez (Wickes, AR). For the remainder of the half, the match went back and forth as the Bucks held a 2-0 lead at the half.
To start the 2nd half, NEO controlled the midfield, and their defense kept the Bucks offsides. With some midfield adjustments, the Bucks regained momentum midway through the half. Ntandoyenkosi Tshuma (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) played a ball to the middle of the field to Daniel Perez. Daniel dribbled to the top of the box and fired one past the keeper to give the Bucks a 3-0 lead.
After the Bucks goal, the Bucks had several missed opportunities and capitalized with almost 10 minutes in the match. With the ball starting on the left touch line, Ntandoyenkosi Tshuma played the ball to Marcos Pires (Trass Lagoas, Brazil) back to Tshuma. Tshuma played the ball across the goal to the feet of Trev Lewis. Trev put it past the keeper to complete the hat trick on Sophomore Day to make it 4-0.
Nearly 30 seconds later, NEO broke up the clean sheet with a goal from outside the box to cut the Bucks lead to 4-1. But, the Bucks didn't let down. Daniel Perez played a ball downfield to in front of the goal. Marcos Pires made the most of it with another Bucks goal with almost 6 minutes remaining in the match. Bucks lead 5-1.
The duo of Perez and Pires was not done yet. Marcos Pires played a ball to Daniel Perez for a goal to make it 6-1 with just under 4 minutes remaining. In the final minute, Marcos Pires found the back of the net on a deflection from the NEO keeper from a shot by Cristian Lua (Mena, AR). The goal gave the Bucks a 7-1 win.
The win brings the Bucks regular season record to 4-8 overall and 4-6 in region play.
The Buck play next Friday, May 14th, in the Region 2 Tournament in Enid, OK.
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