Conway – The Central Arkansas men's soccer team stepped on the pitch for the first time in the 2017 season on Friday night, hosting the UMKC 'Roos at the Bill Stephens Complex. Despite generating their fair share of scoring chances, the Bears struggled to finish on the night, falling to the 'Roos 3-0.

Central Arkansas (0-1) and UMKC (1-0) would trade possession early, with the Bears getting shots from Blake Stricker, Daltyn Knutson, and William Woody in the first 17 minutes, while the 'Roos put up a pair of shots in the same time frame, but it would be UMKC who would break through first, as Eric McWoods played a cross to Alvaro Hernando, who headed it home from 11 yards out in the 21^st minute. With five minutes to play in the half, the Bears would see their best chance of the first 45 minutes, when a corner kick from Chris Holmes found Jake Bates who headed it just to the right of the post.

UCA would get another strong opportunity off of a corner in the 50^th minute, when Pepe San Roman found Knutson, who headed a rocket to towards the back post that UMKC keeper Filippo Errico was barely able to knock away. San Roman created another fantastic chance off of a set piece in the 60^th minute, firing a laser off of a free kick that beat Errico but bounced the wrong way off of the post. UMKC would counter just two minutes later, as Christian Anderaos played a ball forward to McWoods, who chipped it over UCA keeper Rasmus Jonsson to extend the 'Roo lead to 2-0. A diving header from Antoine Preacheur on a ball from McWoods would make it 3-0 in the 89^th minute to cap the game's scoring.

On the day, the Bears got shots on goal from Knutson, Woody, and Christian Ilia, who each put one attempt on frame. In goal, Marc Olsen made three saves in the first half, while Jonsson worked the second half for the Bears.

"I thought our response in the second half was what we needed," said UCA head coach Ross Duncan. "We put ourselves into a position where we had to respond, and we came out flying in the second half. We didn't get one put away in the second half, and that was the difference in the match. If you let a good team hang around, they're going to punish you. Ultimately though, we need to put games away."

Central Arkansas returns to action on Sunday, hosting Incarnate Word at the Stephens at 12:00 PM. "It's great to be home for two games on the weekend, we've spent a lot of time on the road in the preseason," said Duncan. "There's no doubt we're going to respond on Sunday. I can see it in the guys' eyes, they're frustrated with the result, but they haven't lost and faith, and that's what you need. Incarnate Word is always organized, they've always got talent, especially in the attack, and they play a nice brand of soccer."