August 29, 2021 (Tonkawa, Oklahoma) – Coming off their first loss of the season the Rich Mountain Bucks (1-1-0; 1-1-0 in Region 2), the Bucks made their longest road trip of the season to Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa to face the Lady Mavericks. In the preseason polls, the Lady Mavs received votes to be in the top 20 in the NJCAA.
In the first half, the Bucks kicked off and looked to possess down field. NOC took control and looked to attack early in the match. In an early attempt, the Bucks defense and keeper, Elizabeth Rochen (Arlington, TX), stopped the attack. A few minutes later, a Bucks steal resulted in a breakaway, but a shot on goal was saved by the Lady Mavs keeper.
After the 15-minute mark, the Bucks looked to flip the field and take control. Another shot on goal was stopped by the Lady Mavs keeper. NOC would then take control and enter the ball into the box. A Bucks foul would result in a NOC penalty kick, and the Lady Mavs took the lead, 1-0, at approximately the 17 -minute mark. The Bucks took the kickoff and looked to possess and move the ball down the field until the first water break of the match.
After the water break, the Bucks and Lady Mavs went back and forth with both defenses coming up strong. The Lady Mavs would then attack and get back-to-back corner kicks in the 34th minute that gave the Bucks a scare, but great defense saves were made to prevent a goal. After the Bucks goal kick, it didn't take the Bucks long to move the ball down field and make it count. Remmie Ferla (Corby, England) played the ball down field to Rhiannon Holmes (Newcastle, England). Holmes then took a shot from outside the box that went up and over the keeper to tie the game at 1-1 in the 36th minute.
NOC would take control after the kickoff and look to capitalize. After a successful save by Rochen, the Lady Mavs lined up for a corner kick in the 41st minute. On the rebound, NOC found the back of the net to regain the lead, 2-1.
After the kickoff, the Lady Mavs threatened again, but another save by Elizabeth Rochen allowed the Bucks to flip the field, but the Lady Mavs would counter again that resulted in an unsuccessful corner kick that ultimately ended the half. Bucks trailed 2-1. The Bucks took 3 shots in the half, all on goal. Rochen recorded 5 saves in the goal.
The Lady Mavs took the kickoff the start the half and looked to pickup where they left off. Within the first minute, NOC got a shot off, but a great defensive save by Avery Drake (Oklahoma City, OK) prevented another goal. The Bucks would counter and make a great run, but the shot attempt was high.
After going back and forth, the Bucks would get off a another shot attempt that was just wide right. After a free kick for the Bucks, NOC countered in the 52nd minute with a ball down the sideline that was played across for a goal that increased their lead to 3-1. Just a few minutes later, NOC scored another goal to make it 4-1.
After the midway point water break, the Bucks countered a NOC corner kick to get a corner kick of their own. The rebound of the kick was reentered and nearly resulted in a Bucks goal, but the NOC keeper came up with the save.
The remainder of the match went back and forth between both team. The Bucks would fall 4-1.
The loss brings the Bucks record to 1-2-0 overall and in Region 2 play. The ladies play again on Wednesday, September 1st, at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 pm.
#GOBUCKS