Posted: Sep 25, 2024
(September 25, 2024) Midwest City, Oklahoma - Coming off a region win on Sunday against Connors State, the ladies headed to the OKC Metroplex Wednesday morning to take on the 18th ranked Rose State Raiders. Rose State currently sits alone in second place in the region, while the Bucks were tied for third before the day began.
On a very heavy and wet field, the Bucks knew it was going to be a big challenge against the nationally ranked Raiders on the road. Despite this huge challenge in front of them, it was the Bucks who almost got on the scoresheet first. In the first minute, UARM broke up an attack and played a quick pass into the feet of Carla Todd (Lochgilphead, United Kingdom) in the midfield. Todd took advantage of the spaces in front of her to thread a pass forward to Audrey Jordan (Shreveport, LA) who ran off the back of her defender into space. Jordan dribbled 20 yards and shot low to the near post, but the keeper managed to get a hand to the ball to deflect it wide for a corner kick.
The UARM tactic was to get numbers behind the ball and frustrate Rose for as long as possible. It was working well until the 14th minute when the UARM defender was beaten on the dribble from 25 yards and the subsequent shot found the corner of the goal to make it 1-0. UARM changed to a 4-4-2 system to try and chase the game a bit more, looking for an equalizer, knowing they were leaving themselves more open at the back. The plan almost worked when the keeper gave the ball away to Jordan with a misplaced pass, and she bored down on goal. The keeper was up for the 1v1 duel and managed to gather the ball with her outstretched hand as the shot almost got passed her.
From almost being 1-1, it became 2-0 straight after this chance when a speculative shot from the right squeezed under Mac Dellinger (Little Rock, AR) at the near post. The first half ended 3-0 when UARM defense failed to clear a ball into their penalty area allowing a free shot low inside the far post.
The second half became a very turgid affair with Rose State keeping possession of the ball as UARM worked tirelessly on their defensive shape. A fourth goal did eventually come as a Rose State player was left completely open from a corner kick to head home only 6 yards out. The Bucks fell 4-0 to #18 Rose State.
After the match, Coach Sherry stated, "It was obviously going to be a very difficult test for our small squad today, and I thought the ladies handled themselves very well against a top opponent. I was impressed with Audrey filling in as a defender and was hugely impressed with the "togetherness" of the team. The injury to Mac at the end of the game is a concern, and we all hope it is not as serious as it looked."
The ladies are now scheduled to return home on Sunday against Redlands Community College. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 pm at Tapley Park.
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