(September 22, 2024) Mena, Arkansas - After a draw last week with NOC-Enid, the Bucks returned home on Sunday afternoon to take on the Connors State College Cowgirls. The ladies are nearing the end of the first round of region play and every game is significant toward the rankings for the region tournament. 

 

This was not a game for the soccer purists as both teams were guilty of giving away possession with careless passes going astray, leading to the game not having any flow for either team to impact it positively. Connors had the first shot in anger at goal when a 30 yard shot in the 12^th minute was pushed over the crossbar by Mac Dellinger (Little Rock, AR). UARM took control of the midfield and started to have a lot of long shots themselves, but they couldn't get the ball over the goalkeeper's head.  

 

UARM got the break just when they needed it in the 37^th minute. Carla Todd (Lochgilphead, United Kingdom) decided to make a probing pass forward instead of shooting and found Audrey Jordan (Shreveport, LA) in open space. Jordan dribbled past her defender and shot left footed passed the stationary goalkeeper. The ladies held a 1-0 lead at the half.

 

Jasmin Bislev Nielsen (Aabybro, Denmark) almost extended the lead in the 67^th minute after receiving an inch perfect pass form Lidia Rodriguez Dominguez (Ourense, Spain), but her shot went straight at the keeper and Connors still believed they had a way back into this game. This belief was well-founded when in the 78^th minute Dellinger spilled a shot from the right, and a Connors player reacted quickly to smash the ball home from close range.  

 

Straight form the restart, Connors could smell blood and went on the attack immediately and almost had a carbon copy second goal, but this time the Bucks were able to get to the rebound first.  

It was looking more and more like the game would be ending as a 1-1 tie, but as the clock was ticking down to the end, UARM managed to find a killer punch. Connors State was on the attack when UARM won the ball back and started a quick counter-attack themselves. Carla Todd passed forward to Lidia Rodriguez Dominguez as she broke forward and was ice cool with her touch and shot to find the corner of the net. The goal was a well deserved finish to a perfectly executed passing counter attack through the thirds of the field. The ladies got the 2-1 win over the Cowgirls.

 

Coach Sherry was happy for the win, but knows his team didn't play their best. "I am happy we took the 3 points. It certainly looked like we would only have 1 point today and that win was priceless. This is the second game in a row we have been a bit flat and am so proud of the ladies still managing to get results despite not being at their best. We have a small roster, and we are being stretched to the limits at the moment. Almost every player is playing with some form of physical discomfort, and the games are coming thick and fast. I think our win today was built upon a strong foundation of a triangle of players in the middle of the field who were outstanding. Addison Gonzalez (Wylie, TX), Kelsie Harden (McAlester, OK) and Julie Lieu (Sheridan, AR) provided us with a strong foundation from which to keep Connors at arms length and give us a spring board to start attacks. They were key today, so I am obviously very happy to get the 3 points when it really didn't look like were going to."

 

The ladies will now have a few days off before travelling to Midwest City, OK to take on the ranked Rose State Raiders. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 pm.