(August 27, 2025) Mena, Arkansas - After falling in their first matches of the season, the men began their region schedule in their third game of the season. The Bucks took on the Rose State Raiders at Bearcat Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. The Bucks couldn't play at Tapley Park due to this week's weather that made the field unplayable with standing water. 

 

All the evaluation and experimentation done in the pre-season games was over, and it helped set the foundation for how the team will play moving forward for conference play. If this game is any reflection of that process, then the early signs look very promising. UARM dominated the first quarter of the game and were looking for gaps in the Rose State back line to take advantage of, but the final ball was the only thing missing. Diogo Furtado (Paris, France) looked sharp and was cutting through the Rose midfield like a hot knife through butter and was a constant threat. Rose State began to get a foot in the game by having a striker drop back into midfield, but UARM defenders saw the threat and readjusted to once again stop their dominance on the game. Against the run of play, Rose State scored when a long throw was allowed to bounce in the 6-yard box of the penalty area allowing the Rose state striker to overhead kick the ball into the net. UARM got back on it and resumed the game plan pushing Rose State back towards their goal as the half time whistle was blown.

 

The second half began with UARM controlling possession of the ball creating forward passes into the Rose State defensive third, and Rose State going from back to front very quickly with long passes trying to get in behind the Bucks back line. This tactic bore fruit when a long ball was played over the back, and the UARM keeper came running out with no chance of ever reaching the ball. The Rose State striker lifted the ball over the keeper, and even though a Bucks defender got back to stop it from crossing over the line, the striker hit the rebound into the net.  

 

Most teams would have crumbled in this scenario, but the Bucks had other ideas. They put on a second striker and refused to give up. Their bravery was rewarded in the 65^th minute when Juan Serrano (Aubrey, TX) ran down the left wing and his cross was met by Elliot Ramsey (Batley, England) at the back post to finish with a strong one touch finish. UARM was not finished, and after a corner was given in the 84^th minute and as the ball was swung in from the right, Luke Starling (Penarth, Wales) got his head to the ball first. He guided it into the bottom corner for the 2-2 scoreline.

 

UARM kept pushing, and thought they had the 3-2 go ahead lead after Ian Aguire's (Toronto, Canada) long shot was saved by the keeper, and Elliot Ramsey following up to score from the rebound. However, to the team's despair, the Bucks were flagged for offside. The disappointment did not last long, because only 2 minutes later, a long kick from the goalkeeper Brandon McDaniel (McAlester, OK) was flicked on by Ramsey. Hudson Brawner (Montgomery, TX) ran onto the ball and hit a power drive shot into the net at the near post to give the Bucks a 3-2 lead.

 

With only 2 minutes left in the game, and the Bucks were thinking of celebrating a famous victory, but another goalkeeper error allowing a long throw in to bounce in the 6 yard box set up the equalizing tap in goal for Rose State. UARM managed to get one more attack on goal in the last 10 seconds, but the game ended 3-3. UARM starts region play with a draw.

 

Coach Kevin Sherry was happy for his team early in the season, but knows there's mistakes that need to be corrected. "Being 2-0 down so late in the game, I would have taken a tie and the point, but it is a bit frustrating that we had the lead and let it slip so late on. Three goalkeeper errors cost us today and is something we need to take a good long hard look at in practice to fix as soon as possible moving forward. I was so proud of the guys today. They were a real team and didn't give in. The boys didn't complain or whine, and they kept being positive. I am so happy they got something out of the game, because they deserved it."

 

The Bucks will now hit the road for their first road match of the season on Sunday against region foe, Northern Oklahoma College. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm at Advance Soccer Complex in Enid, Oklahoma.