(September 18, 2022) Mena, Arkansas – After a week off from Region II competition, the Bucks return to region play this afternoon at Aubrey D. Tapley Park. In the Bucks two non-region competition, the Bucks went 0-2 on the week. Looking to get back on track, the men hosted Northeastern Oklahoma A&M this afternoon. Coming into the match, the Bucks are 1-1-1 in Region II, while the Norsemen are 1-1-0.
In the first ten minutes of the match, the Bucks had multiple opportunities at the goal but were unsuccessful. Much of the same happened in the next ten minutes, but NEO countered and got a shot on goal stopped by freshmen keeper Connor Wachtel (Grapevine, TX). In the 21st minute, the Bucks turned the ball over in the midfield that led to a goal for the Norsemen. The Bucks trailed 1-0 at the midway water break. The Bucks continued to press after the break and for the rest of the half, but they were unsuccessful at putting a ball in the back of the net. The Bucks had 3 corners in the half and opportunities on fouls, but only put 2 shots on goal out of 8 in the half.
The Bucks continued their pressure in the second half, but the result was the same for the first twenty minutes. The Bucks didn't put a shot on frame. NEO would once again score on a turnover in the midfield that resulted in a run and a goal in the 65th minute. Being down two goals, the Bucks kept pressing and finally found the back of the net. Antonio Galarzo (Mallorca, Spain) took the cross from Yoshua Kibasomba (Memphis, TN) and finished the goal to cut the lead to 2-1 in the 78th minute, but the efforts in the last ten minutes would be unsuccessful. The Bucks would fall 2-1.
The men return to play on Sunday, September 25th, against NOC-Tonkawa. This will end the first round of region play. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 pm.
#GOBUCKS