Box Score
SEARCY - Junior forward Carter Truax and freshman forward Philip McCormick scored three goals each and 11 different Bisons netted goals as Harding defeated Rust College 15-0 on Saturday at the Harding Soccer Field. It was the most goals ever scored in a game by Harding or any other Gulf South Conference team.
Harding improved to 2-6-1 overall. Rust College, an NAIA school in Holly Springs, Miss., had only three shots in the game.
The Bisons' previous record for most goals in a game was 11 against Williams Baptist in 2002. West Florida held the GSC record with 14 goals against Delta State in 2003.
Harding scored any number of ways. Moses Rotich scored first in the 14th minute off a cross. In the 25th minute Gabe Alexander chipped a shot over the Rust goalkeeper from 35 yards away to give the Bisons a 4-0 halftime lead.
The Bisons' first goal of the second half came on a corner kick, literally. Ross Bourdeau's inswinger was caught by the goalkeeper, who then fell into the goal with the ball in his hands.
McCormick scored his three goals in the span of five minutes and 40 seconds in the second half. Carlton Norris netted a goal in his Bison debut. Jay Skinner scored on a penalty kick. The final goal of the game came from Steve Hedeman with three seconds remaining.
Harding played all 21 players on its roster with everyone playing 16 minutes or more.
Bison starting goalkeeper James Thurmond did not face a shot in the first half. Andrew Flesher came on for him at halftime and made two saves. The second was on a one-on-one with Rust forward Garry Howell.
The game took an unexpected twist with 20 minutes remaining. Just after McCormick scored Harding's eighth goal, two Rust players, including the goalkeeper, walked off the field and watched the rest of the game from the bench. A substitute goalkeeper came in an surrendered seven goals in 20 minutes.
Harding will begin GSC play next weekend with a game against Montevallo on Friday and another against West Florida on Sunday.
