(October 30, 2025) Enid, Oklahoma - After clinching the #5 seed in the Region 2 Tournament, the men made the trip to the Advance Soccer Complex to take on #4 Rose State College. Earlier this season, the Bucks drew with Rose State at home and lost on the road to the Raiders. 

 

From the very first whistle, UARM was on the front foot pushing forward with quick combination passing and high pressing to try and force Rose State backwards. It had an immediate effect of creating numerous goal scoring opportunities for UARM, but the Rose State defenders just managed to get a vital touch blocking goal bound shots. Hudson Brawner (Montgomery, TX) had the best look at goal, but his right foot shot narrowly missed the far post.

 

UARM had the majority of possession in the first half, but Rose State remained compact and resolute in their defensive shape. As the half drew to an end, Rose State started to get the ball into the Bucks defensive third with long direct passing and anticipating the dropping 2^nd phase balls. UARM felt the pressure and within the last 5 minutes, Rose State being spent with continuous high crosses being put into the penalty area for the back line, and Brandon McDaniel (McAlester, OK) in goal to deal with.  

 

The halftime was used to remind the UARM players what had been so successful in the first half and to go back to the basics they did so well. This included organized defensive pressure, hunting in packs, and turning defense into offense with quick transition forward passing which helped once again for UARM to take control back of the game. Cavan Chedzey (Burgess Hill, England) had an opening but his shot was deflected close to the goal line away for a corner, and Ian Aguirre (Toronto, Canada) created a wonderful gap to shoot through due to an excuisite turn under pressure but his shot was closed down as it was heading towards the corner of the net.  

 

In the last quarter of the game, UARM started to tire which gave Rose State the impetus to press home their physical advantage. Suddenley, it was UARM who were being turned and asked to run back to their goal to defend. Rose State had almost certain goals taken away from them due to amazing heroics in goal by McDaniel, diving, blocking, punching everything that came towards his goal. UARM were staggering, like a punch drunk boxer, but refused to go down and manged to survive to see the final whistle being blown.  

 

Two 10 minute periods of overtime were next in an attempt to find a winner through a golden goal whereby the first team to score would be victorious. This was nail biting stuff, and you could feel the tension in the air because each team knew that any mistake now would mean the end of their respective seasons. Both teams had chances, but UARM had the better of them as Chedzey saw his header hit the crossbar and Leon being unable to pounce on a lose ball at the far post after a corner kick.  The UARM bench were jumping in the air in anticipation of seeing the ball go in many times but had to sit back down in frustration as the ball refused to go into the net and wanted to see a Penalty Kick Shootout. That is what happenned. The overtime ended 0-0 and it was now down to a 5 man penalty shootout.  

 

Brandon McDaniel saved the first penalty kick low to his right which created a chance for UARM to take the win if they could convert all five of their penaltys. Tyler Sansom (Peterborough, England), Joe Loyd (Barmouth, Wales), Diogo Furtado (Paris, France), and Guiseppe Gonnella (Vicenza, Italy) took care of their leaving Cavan Chedzey to take the vital 5^th kick. The scenario was simple, if he scores UARM move on, but if he misses the shootout will continue to the 6^th kicker. Chedzey stepped up and expertly smashed his kick over the diving keeper to give UARM the win. The bench erupted in celebration and swamped both Chedzey and McDaniel in the corner as the Bucks took down the #4 seed as a #5 seeded team and move onto the semi-finals tomorrow against #1 Murray State College.

 

Coach Kevin Sherry was overly excited for his young team. "That was an amzing game to be a part of. The guys worked so hard and overcame so much adveristy to get that big win. We lost 2 starters just prior to gameday, and we had to reshuffle our team to compensate. The guys did so well in listening to what was asked of them and then to execute the plan on the game field despite all the nerves and tension that is self evident in so many post season tournament games. I felt confident that if the game went to penalty kicks, we would come through it. I just had a good feeling about the outcome all game. We had chances to score, but obviously we have Brandon McDaniel in goal for keeping us alive when at times it looked almost certain Rose would score. Every player who started and came off the bench did an amzing job, and I am so proud of them. It would be amiss of me if I did not highlight Tyler Sansom in midfield today. His running, commitment and skill was a joy to behold and in my humble opinion was the best player, from both teams, on the field today. He would be the first to say that he couldn't have played as well as he did if it wasn't for the tremendous spirit and levels of play from his teammates around him. We now rest up and get ready for a semi-final tomorrow against the #1 seed Murray State who had a rest day today to enjoy."