Box Score SEARCY – Harding took a quick early lead over 20th-ranked Lincoln Memorial on Friday in Gulf South Conference women’s soccer action, but the Lady Bisons were not able to overcome the Lady Railsplitters’ potent offensive attack and fell, 4-2.
Harding (5-8-1, 2-4-0) gained a 1-0 advantage on the first
Kendyl Washburn’s two goals. In the 11
th minute,
Lynsey Clissold sent in a corner kick that
Laura Bullington headed back to Washburn. The sophomore hammered home the goal to the upper-right corner.
Lincoln Memorial (11-2-0, 6-1-0), entered the game as the nation’s fourth-ranked scoring offense. The Lady Railsplitters are also the fourth-ranked team in the NCAA II South Region. LMU scored three consecutive goals, two from Danielle Dos Santos, her 17th and 18th of the season, and one from Kristen Boujos to take the lead for good.
Less than a minute after Dos Santos’ second goal, Washburn responded with her second of the game on a 25-yard blast, her team-leading seventh goal of the season.
Heloisa de Oliveira added LMU’s final goal on a penalty kick in the 75th minute.
Despite allowing four goals, Harding sophomore keeper
Cheryl Dovichak made 13 saves, several of them from point-blank range. Stephanie Kwoka had three saves for the Lady Railsplitters.
Lincoln Memorial outshot Harding 23-13 and had 18 shots on goal.
Despite the loss, Harding is still in the fight for the fourth and final playoff spot for the GSC Tournament. The Lady Bisons will continue that battle Sunday, as they host Alabama-Huntsville at 1 p.m.
Lincoln Memorial is tied with West Florida at the top of the GSC standings, each with six wins.
