Box Score Box Score
SEARCY – Freshman forward Adriana Lucar scored three goals to lead the Harding women's soccer team past West Georgia on Sunday afternoon in Gulf South Conference action. The Lady Bisons improved to 6-7-1 overall and 3-2 in the GSC.
The win puts Harding in third place in the GSC. The top four teams advance to the conference tournament at the end of the season.
Lucar's hat trick was the first of her career, and it was the second time a Harding player has scored three goals in a game this season. Junior forward Paola Eusse had three goals in the 5-0 win over Belhaven on Oct. 8. It was the first time a Lady Bison has scored three goals in a conference game since junior forward Chelsea Brandon scored three her freshman year against Ouachita Baptist on Oct. 31, 2008.
Lucar's first goal came in the 16th minute when she was fouled in the box and received a penalty kick. She converted it for her fourth goal of the season. Two minutes later, Chelsea Brandon took a free kick five feet from the end line and found Lucar in the middle of the six-yard box for her second goal on the day. Lucar's third goal came in the 55th minute when Eusse dribbled from the left to the center of the 18-yard box and flicked it backwards to an open Lucar.
West Georgia got on the board in the 34th minute when Ambrey Earl sent a through ball past the HU defense and found Elyse Boileau for the goal. The Wolves had a chance to tie the match 2-2, two minutes later when Harding fouled a West Georgia player in the box. Jessica Young's penalty kick went to the middle left of the goal and was saved by Lady Bison senior goalkeeper Hannah Douglas.
Harding took a 2-1 lead into halftime.
West Georgia applied pressure to the Harding defense in the second half. In the 74th minute, the Wolves cut the deficit to one when Melanie Kilburn kicked a through ball to an open Angie Jolly for the goal.
The Lady Bisons had a chance to seal the victory in the 84th minute when Eusse had a breakaway but the shot went just over the crossbar.
The Wolves made one final push for the tying goal, but the Harding defense knocked out every attempt.
The Lady Bisons will be back in action Thursday when they travel to Batesville, Ark., to face Lyon College at 1 p.m.
