CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Central Arkansas men's soccer team wrapped up a grueling six-game road swing with a 4-1 loss at Charlotte Wednesday night. Devonte Richards got the Bears on the board, but the Charlotte offense proved to be too much.
 
The Bears (0-5-1) were put under pressure almost immediately, as the Niners threw numbers forward. Charlotte had two shots and a corner kick within the first ten minutes, and before too long, the Niners had their first goal in the 15^th minute. After the first score, the Bear defense settled in a little bit more, forcing the home team to take shots from farther out. This allowed Merrick Cook, starting his first game in goal for the Purple and Gray, to get in front of shots, of which there were plenty. In just the first half, Cook would be called upon to make eight saves, a career high after spending his first three seasons at Cal State-Northridge.
 
Central Arkansas finally got some forward action late in first half, pressing forward and finding their first shot of the game off the foot of Jonathan Sorto, but his attempt was high of the net. The Bears stayed up top until the end of the half, where Lucas Shearer forced a save from the Niner keeper, but the teams went to the break with the 1-0 score.
 
Just like the first half, the pressure from the home team came quickly out of the break. But shortly into the half, the Niners earned a PK, which the shooter made. Ten minutes later, a shot that ricocheted off the post landed right at the feet of another Charlotte player, who put in the third goal of the match for the home team.
 
But the Bears didn't quit; on the ensuing kickoff, the ball reached Richards up on the right flank. After dribbling close to the box, the senior unloaded a laser from 30 yards out, one-hopping it over the outstretched keeper and into the left corner of the net. The goal marked the first of the year for Richards, and the 11^th of his Central Arkansas career.
 
Central Arkansas desperately sought a second goal, but as time ticked away, Charlotte was in no rush to break their defensive line, shielding the goal from another attempt by the Bears. Kaisei Matsudo put foot to ball late in the match, but the Niner keeper was able to corral it. Charlotte added one final goal in the closing seconds. Cook would end up with 13 saves, marking the second-most in a single match by a Central Arkansas keeper. The newcomer to the program fought for 90 minutes, making some excellent saves from every angle.
 
Central Arkansas is finally at home for its next match, taking on Eastern Illinois on Sunday at the Bill Stephens Complex. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.