UARM started fast and pinned Connors State back into their half, leading to numerous long throws being put into the penalty area from Hudson Brawner (Montgomery, TX) which caused a lot of chaos, but the Bucks were unable to get the telling last touch in front of the goal. UARM dominated possession of the ball and had the majority of the shots on goal, but with 10 seconds left in the half, Connors went 1-0 up. A long free kick was over hit and as the UARM goalkeeper stepped forward to gather it up, he allowed the ball to slip through his arms and legs to the goal for the on rushing striker to tap home. The players were in shock, but they used the break to pick themselves up and keep the belief that they could turn this game around. 

 

This positive attitude had an immediate effect in the second half when a throw in was flicked on by Cavan Chedzey (Burgess Hill, England) to the center of the pitch and fell to Logan Robinson (Peterborough, England) who shot low and hard into the corner of the goal. The match was tied at 1-1. UARM kept pushing for the second and came close time and time again. Chedzey had an open goal from a Brawner cut back, but he put it over the goal. Chedzey was put through again, but his shot was deflected just wide of the post. Luke Starling (Penarth, Wales) had his header cleared off the line. Another breakaway saw Chedzey setting up Guiseppe Gonnella (Vicenza, Italy) 1v1 with the goalkeeper, but his shot was saved. 

 

It just looked like it would be one of those games where the winning goal would just not go in, but it did. With four minutes left on the clock, Kenneth Almendares (Houston, TX) set Hudson Brawner running down the left wing. His powerful running beat two defenders before calmly passing across goal to pick out Cavan Chedzey who finished with aplomb. The scenes of celebration were immense, and the Bucks played with grit and determination to the end to get the much deserved win. 

 

Coach Kevin Sherry likes what he see from his team at this point in the season. "This has been the best week of training with guys, and the results were self-evident in the way they played and understood their roles. The performance was outstanding, and it gives us a great platform with which to take into the postseason tournament. The result was great, but the performance was out of this world."

 

The men have atleast solidified the #5 seed in the Region 2 Tournament that will be held on October 30th - November 2nd at Advance Soccer Complex. One week remains in the Region 2 regular season.

 

The Bucks have one match remaining on October 22nd against Murray State College. The Bucks sophomores will be honored between games at Tapley Park.