LAKE CHARLES, LA. - The Central Arkansas Bears lost 3-1 on the road to the Cowgirls of McNeese on Friday, March 19. The loss moves the Bears to 3-4 in Southland Conference play and 12-6-1 overall.

FIRST HALF - FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS BUT MISSED CHANCES

The Bears started the first half the stronger of the two sides. However, McNeese registered the first two shots of the game, which were both comfortable saves by Reagan McCombs. The Bears out-shot the Cowgirls four to two in the first ten minutes and continued to take chances throughout the half. The biggest chance for the Bears came in the 25th minute when Morgan Rollow fired a shot towards the top right corner which was tipped away by the McNeese goalkeeper.

In the 41st minute, Taylor Lassiter registered a good chance as she turned on a six-pence and fired a shot that had to be saved by the goalkeeper's fingertips again. The teams went into the halftime break level at zero apiece.

SECOND HALF - SLOW START AND UNLUCKY BREAKS

The second half started quite the opposite for the Bears when they tried to tread a tight angle pass which was intercepted and taken the other way by McNeese starting a counter-attack. In the 50th minute, McNeese got on the board with a low-driven shot to McCombs near post. McCombs got a hand to it but was unable to keep the powerful shot out. Just 12 minutes later, the Cowgirls got their second, when a mishit cross went over McCombs's head and into the back of the net.

The Bears cut into the two-goal lead for McNeese when Abby Gibson put a beautifully weighted ball right past the McNeese goalkeeper after Gracie Hair found her feet on a cross. Just five minutes later though, McNeese was able to fire right back when a failed clearance by the Bears fell right to the feet of a McNeese attacker who placed the ball right in the back of the net. The Bears continued to push for another, but could not find a later goal.

HEAR FROM THE COACH

"Another frustrating night. We played well over most of the match but in the key moments on the defensive and attacking ends of the field we didn't make the plays to either score when we had chances or stop them on the few chances they had. We just need to keep going, stay positive and be ready for the next one," said Coach Jeremy Bishop.

The Bears travel to Beaumont to take on Lamar on Sunday, March 21. Kickoff is set for 1 P.M.