(September 6, 2023) Mena, Arkansas - Coming off a tough loss to Eastern Oklahoma on Sunday, the ladies of Bucks Soccer were looking to get back on track this afternoon at Tapley Park against in-state foe National Park College. This was the last non-region match of the season for the ladies. It will be nothing but Region II opponents from now until the finish.
In a very evenly matched game, it was evident very early on that the phases of play, which would play an essential role in dictating the end result, were how each team dealt with high balls into their own penalty area and finishing goal-scoring opportunities. The start of the game proved the point when Jasmin Nielsen (Aabybro, Denmark) had numerous scoring opportunities but was unable to find the net. UARM hoped these missed chances would not end up hurting them, but it did. A corner kick was conceded from a miss control, and National Park was able to score direct from the corner with a high ball which UARM could not deal with.
UARM kept pressing for a goal and hoping the tide would turn with success in front of goal. Eventually, UARM got on the score sheet with a one touch shot from Carla Todd (Lochgilphead, United Kingdom) after receiving a quick pass from Jasmin Nielsen on the left. The Bucks didn't have to wait long for their second goal, when the same combination resulted in a powerful shot into the goal. Carla Todd turned on the ball and passed to Jasmin Nielsen who shot on the run to score.
At halftime, UARM had to make some changes due to Kyla Ferguson (Wickes, AR) going down injured, but the ladies still managed to create scoring opportunities, and in the 51st minute, the defense of National Park were once again breached. The same two combined for the goal as for the first two. Jasmin Nielsen put a long forward, the National Park defender mis controlled the ball and Carla Todd pounced on the loose ball hitting a powerful shot from all of 40 yards over the head of the goalkeeper to make it 3-1.
The game started to lose some energy, as the heat began to drain the players on both sides. But, the game sparked into life again on the 78th minute when Brisa Aguilar (Dallas ,TX) shot into the goal from 30 yards out for her second goal of the season. Three minutes later, National Park pulled a goal back when Mac Dellinger (Little Rock, AR), in goal, let the opposition forward have a free header from 6 yards out. However, only 5 minutes from that goal, the Bucks managed to score again when Jasmin Nielsen pounced on a rebound after a shot was saved to score at the near post. The score was 5-2 but the goals kept coming. Abbie Sunners (Liverpool, United Kingdom) passed to Jasmin Nielsen in the 88th minute and her powerful shot flew into the top corner of the goal. In the last minute of the game, Jasmine Nielsen scored again after following up a shot, which the goalkeeper spilled to shoot into an empty net.
Jasmin Nielsen scored 4 goals and had an assist in the win for the Bucks. Carla Todd followed with 2 goals of her own, and Brisa Aguilar's shot in the 78th minute put her in the stat sheet for UARM.
Coach Kevin Sherry was proud of his team. "There were periods of the game when the momentum could have swayed either way, and so I was very happy to see the ladies keep their concentration to fight through the exhaustion to get a foothold in the game and get the result."
The ladies return to action on Sunday against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 pm at Tapley Park.
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