(August 22, 2024) Hot Springs, Arkansas - After a 9-9-0 2023 campaign, the ladies of Bucks Soccer took the field for the first time in 2024. The Bucks wanted to build off of last season that had some highlighted moments, including having the leading goal scorer in the country: Jasmin Bislev Nielsen (Aabybro, Denmark). Jasmin was named to the 2023 NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention Team. The ladies return 6 players from last year's roster.
The squad had been working hard in pre-season in preparation for this first game of the season, and despite some rustiness, the team came together and put together a performance which they will use as a foundation on which to build upon. The patterns of play the team had been working on started to evolve as the game developed. This resulted in numerous progressive attacking plays. The attacking play was not producing goals due to a lack of composure in the final third, but then suddenly, 3 goals came in three minutes around the 30 minute mark. Julie Lieu (Sheridan, AR) started the scoring with a perfect long range shot into the top corner, quickly followed by Lidia Rodriguez Dominguez (Ourense, Spain) shooting into the corner from the edge of the box. Jasmin Bislev Nielsen completed the 3 goal barrage with another shot from 20 yards out. These three goals enabled the team to settle down, and they began to find each other more consistently with passing and combinations. The fluidity of their attackes produced 2 more goals from Audrey Jordan (Shreveport, LA) sneaking into the penalty area and scoring from close range to end the first half.
The second half was a bit of a slower affair as both teams struggled with early season fitness, and the game gently came to a conclusion with the 5-0 win for UARM on the road. Goalkeeper Mac Dellinger (Little Rock, AR) had a clean sheet with 3 saves on the afternoon.
The women will now play again on Saturday in their home opener against Dallas College Eastfield. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 am at Tapley Park in Mena.
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