(October 9, 2024) Tishomingo, Oklahoma - The Bucks were still searching for their second region win of the seaon on Wednesday, but their opponent was the #7 team in the country, Murray State College. As the playoff picture starts to get clearer, it is still blurry for the men on their quest to qualify. 

The Bucks knew it was going to be difficult coming into the game on the road against the #7 nationally ranked team, and difficult, it proved to be. Murray State dominated possession, but the Bucks defended as a team with stoic resistance, always covering for each other if one was beaten. UARM fed off quick counter attacks to get up the field, and it was from one of these plays in transition which the men scored and take the lead against the run of play. The back line won the ball and quickly fed Muriuki Mwirigi (Nairobi, Kenya) running forward. As he dribbled past a defender, he was tripped from behind. Ryan Conquest (Watford, United Kingdom) stepped up and expertly curled the resulting free kick over the wall and into the top corner of the net. 

UARM celebrated with gusto and used this energy to hold firm and get to half time with the goal advantage. 

UARM knew their backs would be against the wall defending against a superior team with high motivation to get back into the game. The Bucks, however, held strong and would give no quarter until their Achilles heel all season struck again. A corner from the right found a Murray striker free and open from 6 yards out to head home unopposed. It has been a pattern all season where UARM struggle to deal with corner kicks and conceding goals from them on a regular occurrence. Heads seem to go down, and Murray scored their second when they broke down the right passed a stationary left defender to cross into the middle for a simple tap in. The Bucks held firm again, and in the last quarter made some changes to add more attackers on the field. It was a gamble knowing that they could force an equalizer or be exposed at the back and concede more. Despite creating chances to score, it was the latter which took hold and Murray scored 3 late goals. 

Not all was lost for Coach Kevin Sherry. He focused on the positives after the game. "I am super proud of the guys. I think this is the first time Murray state have not scored in the first half all season and to be in front was a great added bonus. We knew the second half would be tough, and if it wasn't for our obvious weakness at corners, we could have them longer and who knows what could have happened as the clock ran down."

The men now have a week off before taking on NOC-Enid on Wednesday, October 16th, at home. This match could determine the last position in the region tournament. 

#DefendTheMountain