Posted: Aug 23, 2025
(August 23, 2025) Mena, Arkansas - After a loss on Thursday, the Bucks looked to get their first win of the season on Saturday against UA Cossatot. The Bucks took down the Colts last season in De Queen.
UARM started well and had the first good chance on goal when Angel Roa (Bogota, Colombia) hit the post with a header from a Guiseppe Gonnella (Vicenza, Italy) cross on the left wing. This was to be an isolated opportunity in the first half as mistakes resulted in loss of possession with numerous passes going astray and controling touches being too heavy. UARM constantly gave the ball away giving Cossatot the momentum with easy passage to the Bucks goal. It was only a matter of time before one of these mistakes would lead to a goal, and it came in the 25th minute when UARM lost possession of the ball in midfield. Cossatot quickly placed the stray ball over the Bucks defense for an onrushing striker to lift the ball over an advancing keeper into an empty net.
To start the second half, more players were positioned in midfield by UARM to help the players have more passing options. In hope, this would lead to the team being able to keep possession of the ball better. Unfortunatley, even having more players open to pass to the midfield continued to give the ball away and lose it. This was never more self evident when the Bucks took a heavy touch in midfield and lost it to a defender coming from behind. The Colts player got to the ball first and played a through ball for a striker who was wide open to easily finish from close range.
UARM put on some height up top and went to a more direct style of play hoping to feed off any touches the target players can manage to flick on. This tactic resulted in a considerable amount of good looks on goal, but the finishing was woeful. Brandon McDaniel (McAlester, OK) made some good saves to keep the Bucks in the game, and with a bit more composure, the game could have been saved.
Coach Sherry is still learning about his team in the young season. "We learned so much in our second game of the season. We are obviously not going to be a high possession team and have to look more at developing our transition game together with a more direct style of attacking play. This will help us play to our strengths and minimize our mistakes, becasue we will be staying away from our very obvious shortcomings. I think this team will improve once we settle on this style of play."
The men begin region play on Wednesday, August 27th, against Rose State College. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 pm at Tapley Park.
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