(September 14, 2025) Mena, Arkansas - After their draw with then #3 Seminole State College last Sunday, the ladies had a week off to get ready for the next month of region play, but first, the ladies had their last non-region match of the season against the Little Rock Rangers Club team on Sunday afternoon at Tapley Park. 

 

On a hot afternoon, the Little Rock Rangers visited the campus to showcase their talents and gain valuable experience playing against college players. UARM started with the objective of giving as many of the players on the roster who had not seen a lot of minutes so far this season to start and get some valuable playing time into their legs.

 

The Rangers dominated the first 15 minutes with aggressive pressing, forcing the Bucks players to lose possession of the ball, but the more experienced back line of the Bucks was able to keep any potential scoring opportunities at arms length and keep the game tied going into the water break, midway through the first half. Players were starting to feel the pace due to the heat, so the changes UARM made played a major part in turning the game into a more offensive pattern for the Bucks.  

 

Prior to the first goal being scored, Gavi Urias (Little Rock, AR) had a wonderful chance at the goal, but her shot to an unguarded goal went just by the post. Soon followed by two long shots from Caitlyn Turner (Napier Hawkes Bay, New Zealand), both sailed high over the goal. Urias had another breakaway, but her shot was well saved at the far post. You could sense a goal was coming, and just after coming in off the bench, Maya Lane (Southend-on-Sea, England) and Solange Depirou (St. Albans, England) combined to free up Depirou for a shot, which flew into the top left corner of the goal.  

 

The second goal soon followed after Depirou set up Marie Mongoin (Le Tignet, France) on the edge of the penalty area, and her lofted shot carried over the goalkeeper and under the crossbar to make it 2-0. 

Just before the whistle to end the first half, UARM scored to make it 3-0 after Caitlyn Turner passed inside a defender for Maya Lane to run onto and poke the ball home with her toe.

 

The second half had more of a sedate pace due to the heat, and much of the game was spent in the middle third as both teams fought to take control of the game. As in the first half, UARM took more of a hold on the game after changes were made towards the end of the game allowing Manuela Barbosa de Souza (Garca Sao Paulo, Brazil) to score her first collegiate goal. She ran on to the ball and finished with an accurate shot into the corner after a perfectly weighted through ball by Lexi Lara (Kilgore, TX) released her in behind the back line.

 

Coach Kevin Sherry was pleased with his team today, but it also gave UARM a recruiting platform as well. "This was a great opportunity for us to showcase our campus and soccer field to a local club team as we look to foster stronger ties with Arkansas clubs and high school soccer. I was very impressed with the level of play from Little Rock Rangers and their aggressive pressing that caused us to give up the ball on many occasions which forced our players to focus on their passing accuracy more and more, which was a good learning tool for us. I was happy to give minutes and a start to many of the squad who have put in a lot of work in practice and deserved a chance to showcase their talents, which has not been available to them up to now. They did very well, and it was nice to see the team having a lot of depth now and have players we know we can trust to go into the game and do a job."

 

The ladies will take their 4-0-1 record to Tishomingo, Oklahoma on Wendesday for a region match against Murray State College. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 pm.