4/26/25
Wolves - Buffaloes 1:2
In a hard-fought match that lived up to the rivalry’s growing reputation, the FC Bartlesville Buffaloes defeated the Arkansas Wolves 2-1 on Saturday in front of a crowd of around 100 spectators.
This was a rematch of last season’s intense conference championship game, and both sides showed from the opening whistle that they were ready for another battle.
The Buffaloes struck first, with Nemanja Vukovic breaking the deadlock about 15 minutes into the game. A cross from Luka Milicevic found Vukovic racing past the Wolves' goalkeeper to tap home the opener. It was a moment of sharp instincts and raw speed from the Buffaloes’ striker, setting the tone for much of the first half.
Shortly after the first goal, Bartlesville doubled their advantage. Once again, Milicevic was the provider, threading a through ball to Simeon Adair, who produced a phenomenal finish to put the Buffaloes up 2-0. At that point, the visitors seemed firmly in control of the match. This was the score we saw at the break!
However, momentum shifted dramatically in the second half. The Wolves came out energetic and started playing in a very high press, but still were not creating goal-scoring opportunities. On the other side of the field, through a counterattack, Julian Tovar drew a penalty kick. After missing a penalty kick that could have sealed the game, the Buffaloes were caught off guard. The Wolves immediately launched a furious counterattack and pulled a goal back, igniting a new level of intensity.
From that point forward, Arkansas dominated possession and relentlessly pressed for an equalizer. The Buffaloes were forced into a defensive stance, digging deep to preserve their narrow lead. Ultimately, Bartlesville’s early dominance and defensive resilience were enough to secure a vital victory.
The Buffaloes will look to keep their momentum going when they return to action on Sunday, May 4, hosting their next match at Custer Stadium at 4 p.m.