The Central Arkansas men’s soccer team secured a spot in the upcoming ASUN Championships after a 2-1 victory over Queens on Saturday night in Conway, Arkansas. The match, played under rainy and colder-than-expected conditions, also marked Senior Day for the Bears.
With this win, Central Arkansas improved its overall record to 4-8-2 and its conference record to 3-1-1. The team scored both of its goals in the first half and managed to maintain the lead throughout the second half.
Queens started strong, recording three shots on goal within the first 12 minutes before Central Arkansas had an attempt. However, Central Arkansas capitalized on its first shot when Lucas Shearer assisted Devonte Richards for a goal in the 21st minute.
Near the end of the first half, Omar Atia set up Michael Oliveri for his fourth goal of the season, extending Central Arkansas’s lead to 2-0 just before halftime.
In the second half, Aby Gomez forced a save from Queens’ goalkeeper early on. Queens responded with increased offensive pressure and scored in the 63rd minute to narrow Central Arkansas’s lead. Despite several more attempts from both teams, Central Arkansas focused on defense during the final stretch and limited Queens’ chances.
Central Arkansas will conclude its regular season with an away game against Lipscomb on November 1. The Bears still have an opportunity to secure the No. 1 seed in their division with a win in their final match.
