DALLAS, Texas – The Central Arkansas men's soccer team held on as long as possible against the No. 25 SMU Mustangs, but ultimately fell 2-0 Tuesday night. The match marked the final non-conference game of the year for the Bears.
 
The loss moves the Bears to 3-7-2 overall, and Central Arkansas was able to get a number of younger players quality minutes against a very talented SMU team.
 
The Bears stayed competitive early on in the match, with Devonte Richards and Jonathan Sorto matching SMU shot for shot in the first ten minutes. The nationally ranked home team continued to pressure the Central Arkansas goal, but the defense and Merrick Cook stood tall, keeping the game scoreless.
 
Central Arkansas continued to try to keep pace with the Mustangs, and for the first 30 or so minutes, hung around, getting up six shots in the first half. But finally, in the 37^th, the Mustangs broke through, scoring the opening goal of the match.
 
It wouldn't take long for SMU to add a goal in the second half, putting their only shot on goal in the final 45 minutes into the back of the net in the 56^th. But from there on out, the Central Arkansas defense held firm, keeping the Mustangs out of dangerous areas and forcing shots from distance, which more often than not, trailed away from the net. Vaclav Kozeny had the lone chance in the second half for the Bears, but his shot missed high of the net.
 
Central Arkansas resumes ASUN play on Saturday, hitting the road to take on Bellarmine in Louisville, Kentucky. Kickoff against the Knights is set for 6 p.m. CT.