SEARCY – The Harding men's soccer team is looking to put a disappointing pre-conference schedule in the past as it begins Gulf South Conference play this weekend on the road.
Harding (0-5) opens the conference action Friday at Alabama-Huntsville with action beginning at 3 p.m. Live stat coverage will be available on HardingSports.com. The Chargers enter the game with a 1-5 overall record after losing its first four games. They snapped the skid with a 1-0 win at Tennessee Wesleyan. The Chargers lost their last outing 2-0 in a non-conference matchup with Christian Brothers.
Alabama-Huntsville has scored only three goals in 2010, two coming in a 3-2 overtime loss to Montevallo, and one of those was an own goal. The other two goals came from Tony Stock and Brandon LeMier.
The Chargers are last in the six-team conference in shots per game (8.17) and goals per game (0.50). Defensively, they are tied for third in goals against average (1.59) and saves per game (5.67).
Alabama-Huntsville leads the all-time series with Harding 6-3-1 overall and 2-1-1 in Huntsville.
Harding's second road game of the weekend and the final road contest of a five-game road swing is Sunday at Delta State in Cleveland, Miss. The game begins at 1 p.m. On the flip side, it will be the fifth game of a six-game homestand for Delta State.
The Statesmen enter the weekend 2-5 overall and will meet Ouachita Baptist on Friday. DSU is coming off a 1-0 home loss to Freed-Hardeman last Saturday that snapped a brief two-game winning streak.
Delta State is fifth in the GSC in scoring at 0.86 goals per game and fifth with 8.67 shots per game. Defensively, the Statesmen are fifth in goals against average (2.43).
Harding leads the all-time series with Delta State 5-2 overall. The teams have split two meetings in Cleveland.
Harding currently ranks third in scoring at 1.25 goals per game and sixth in goals against average at 3.50.
The Bisons have five goals all from different players in 2010.
Harding is coming off a 5-2 loss at Northeastern State on Tuesday. Jackson Savage and Ryan Wilhelm picked up their first goals in the game.
The Bisons will be looking to snap their 17-game road winless streak. Harding's last win away from Searcy came on Oct. 12, 2008 at Alabama-Huntsville.
