(October 22, 2025) Mena, Arkansas - After a win last Wednesday over Connors State, the men have punched their ticket to the Region 2 Tournament in Enid, Oklahoma next week. The Bucks had one final regular season contest against Murray State College on Wednesday afternoon at Tapley Park. Murray State beat the Bucks 2-1 earlier this season. 

 

Just like the women. the Bucks men got off to a fast start scoring in the 9^th minute from a transition in midfield forcing a turn over and finding Cavan Chedzey (Burgess Hill, England) up top quickly. He held the ball up and played to on rushing Diogo Furtado (Paris, France) who drove past a defender and finished low across the goalkeeper to make it 1-0.

 

Murray State had a lot riding on this game and their intensity paid off 10 minutes later when a cross from the right was turned into his own goal by the Bucks defender. The match went into the half tied at 1-1. 

 

UARM was in the game, and it was a tight affair when suddenly Murray State took advantage of a mistake at the back by a UARM defender to capitalize on and score the winning goal. The Murray striker dribbled across the goal past two standing defenders and his shot was saved, but the defender delayed clearing the rebound. The striker quickly got his foot to the ball to tap home into an empty net. UARM pushed hard but couldn't find that 2^nd goal to get a point they deserved for their efforts, fall 2-1.

 

Coach Kevin Sherry is proud of his team for their efforts at the end of the seson. "We had one of the best teams in the Region worried for large parts of this game which is a good reflection of how hard the guys have been working. I enjoyed seeing our goal come from a defensive situation we have been practicing. Murray was just a few percent technically better and physically stronger, which made the difference in the end. But, we go to the postseason tournament with hope in our hearts.  Anything can happen in tournament play."

 

The men will play at 9 am on Thursday, October 30th, against Rose State College at the Advance Soccer Complex in Enid, OK.