CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas men's soccer team stumbled Friday night against Jacksonville, falling 2-1 at the Bill Stephens Complex.
The loss moves the Bears to 5-5-1 overall and 2-2 in conference.
Devonte Richards scored his second goal of the season to keep the Bears in it, but ultimately couldn't answer a second goal.
Jacksonville put the first shot on goal on target in the seventh minute, but
Javier Ramirez was in front of it to keep the early attempt out. The Bears countered, earning a PK in the eighth minute, but missed the attempt.
The Dolphins scored the first goal of the match in the 19
th, but the Bears answered quickly.
Matheo Francou dished the ball out wide to a waiting Richards, who lofted the ball up and over the keeper, curling it from right to left into the goal. The match continued, with both sides taking shots throughout the remainder of the half, but the sides went into the break even at 1-1.
Out of halftime, the Bears nearly took the lead just three minutes into the second;
Michael Oliveri pounded one to the lower left, but the Dolphin keeper was able to stay in front of it. Countering, Jacksonville pressed and earned a corner kick. The Dolphins were able to pin the ball deep in the Bears' defensive third and rebounded a shot and put it back into the net, reclaiming the lead.
Central Arkansas received a red card in the 56
th, going down a man for the remaining 34 minutes. And despite only having ten men, the Bears nearly equalized on several occasions, with great shots from
Pharis Petrica, Charles Brunet and
Elijah Bishop.
Aby Gomez nearly tied it in the final minute, putting a shot on goal in the final minute, but his shot couldn't get past for the score.
The Bears are on the road for the next one, heading to Dallas, Texas to face SMU. Kickoff in Dallas is set for 6 p.m.
