Box Score
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – A two-minute defensive letdown in the first half and a one-minute lapse in the second half spelled defeat for the Harding men's soccer team Tuesday against Northeastern State. The Bisons fell 5-2 to the RiverHawks in a non-conference matchup.
The game was Harding's third of five straight on the road and its final non-conference contest before meeting Alabama-Huntsville on Thursday in Huntsville to open Gulf South Conference play.
A member of the NCAA II Lone Star Conference, Northeastern State (4-1) broke the scoreless tie at the 22-minute mark when Sambo Claros scored following a throw-in. The RiverHawks quickly added two more goals in less than two minutes. At23:21, Claros scored again after collecting a through-ball from Andre Hernandez, who then made it 3-0 on an assist from Alex Novoa at 23:44.
Harding (0-4) pulled one goal back before the halftime break. Sophomore Jackson Savage took a cross from Charles Zacheaus at the 40:10 mark and scored his first collegiate goal. Savage had eight shots in the game, six on-goal, the most by a Harding player in a game this season.
A pair of goals in quick succession by Northeastern State's Josue Garcia sealed the win for the RiverHawks. Garcia scored the first of his two unassisted goals at 62:37 and collected the second just 57 seconds later to make it 5-1.
Freshman Ryan Wilhelm became the fifth different Harding player to score a goal this season when he netted an unassisted tally with just 28 seconds remaining in the game.
Northeastern State had just four more shots than Harding in the game, 21-17. Harding's 11 shots on goal were the most in a game this season. The Bisons had four corner kicks to two for the RiverHawks.
Harding goalkeeper Will Reno had nine saves, a new season high.
