September 17, 2021 (Mena, Arkansas) - The Rich Mountain Bucks (0-2-2 overall; 0-1-2 in Region play) took the field at Tapley Park looking for their first win of the season. Their opponent was the other Region 2 school in Arkansas that has NJCAA Soccer: National Park College.

The Bucks looked to take control of the match early, but the game went back and forth through the first 15 minutes. With multiple missed opportunities, the Bucks made it count off the foot of Khalid Hassan (Hamilton, Ontario) in the 19th minute. Kason Shrum (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma) played the ball to the middle of the field to find Khalid for the goal. The Bucks and Nighthawks went back and forth for the remainder of the half. The Bucks held a 1-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, it didn't take the Bucks long to extend their lead. In the 47th minute, Antonio Galarzo (Mallorca, Spain) played the ball into the box for Lushil Abbia (Johannesburg, South Africa). Lushil made it count off the Nighthawk defender to extend the Bucks lead to 2-0. The lead wasn't safe as the Nighthawks scored a goal in the 57th minute off a counter from a Bucks turnover in the middle of the field. The Bucks held a 2-1 lead with about 33 minutes left in the match.

After going back and forth for almost 21 minutes, the Bucks extended their lead on a penalty kick off a Nighthawk foul. Jan Lloveras Freixas (Platja d'Aro, Spain) took the PK and found the back of the net to make it 3-1. For the next 10 minutes, the Bucks would maintain possession and held on for the 3-1 win.

After a long home stretch, the Bucks (1-2-2 overall; 1-1-2)are on the road Sunday, September 19th, at NEO A&M in Miami, Oklahoma. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 pm at Red Roberson Field. 

#GOBUCKS