(September 25, 2023) Muskogee, Oklahoma - Not playing bad in their last three halves of soccer, the ladies looked to keep momentum rolling yesterday afternoon against Connors State. The ladies are still in contention for a playoff berth at the Region 2/South Central District Tournament later in October. The ladies most likely need to finish in the top 5 of the region to make the playoffs. The Bucks entered the day 2-5 in region play with just this match remaining to conclude the first round of region play.
Both teams started the game slowly due to the heavy conditions of the field due to the heavy rain it received Sunday morning. Passes were dropping short of their target and players were trying to adjust their game accordingly. Once UARM 'found their feet,' their attacking play began to take hold of the game. Chances were being created but not taken, but the UARM strikers kept plugging away nevertheless. They got their reward in the 15th minute when Anja von Allmen (Matten, Switzerland) played a ball from the back line straight through the heart of the Connors defense, and Jasmin Nielson (Aabybro, Denmark) latched onto it and finished low, passed the goalkeeper. Eight minutes later Nielsen scored again after being set up by Carla Todd (Lochgilphead, United Kingdom) for the shot to find the net. The ladies did not have to wait long for their third as two minutes later Jasmin Nielsen crossed from the left and Kyla Ferguson (Wickes, AR) finished at the far post. The attacking play of UARM continued to flow and another Carla Todd/Jasmin Nielsen combination resulted in Nielsen scoring her hat trick goal.
The second half followed the pattern of the first half and UARM were able to add 3 more goals to the total, all scored by Jasmin Nielsen to add another hat tick to her tally. Assists were from Kyla Ferguson, and two from Carla Todd to help Nielsen achieve the amazing feat of scoring a hat trick in each half and finish with 6 goals in the game. Bucks win 7-0 to improve their overall record to 5-5-0 and 3-5-0 in region play.
Coach Kevin Sherry is very upbeat about his women's team. "I think this was one of the first times we have had all of our starters fit and ready to start a game, and it showed with our overall level of play in the game. The team's play was generally more consistent and connected which provided us with a chance to dictate the flow of the game more so than in previous games. Huge congratulations to Jasmin on her achievements today, but I know she would be the first one to give credit to her teammates because without their help she would not be in a position to score those goals."
#DefendTheMountain