SEARCY – The Harding men's soccer team will make its second attempt at a season opener Saturday when it meets Palm Beach Atlantic at the Harding Soccer Field. The game will begin at 11 a.m. and will precede Harding's women against Palm Beach Atlantic.
Harding traveled to Springfield, Mo., to take on Missouri S&T on Thursday, but officials called the game after 33 minutes due to lightning. That game will not be made up.
The Bisons, now in their 11th season of intercollegiate soccer, will be looking for their first win in a season opener since their inaugural season of 2000.
Palm Beach Atlantic is an independent member of the NCAA Division II and is located in West Palm Beach, Fla. The Sailfish return six starters and 11 letterwinners off last season's team that finished 11-6-3. Palm Beach Atlantic will be looking to replace some key contributors. The Sailfish are without four-year starting goalkeeper Joe Yurchak, midfielder and last season's leading scorer Johnathan Clark (10 goals), and All-America defender Cheyne Roberts.
Harding and Palm Beach Atlantic met last season in the only previous matchup between the schools. The Sailfish defeated the Bisons 1-0 on a 60th minute goal by Clark on a rebound off a blocked shot.
Saturday's game is the first of seven regular season home games for the Bisons, but the squad will play its next five games on the road beginning on Sept. 14 at Williams Baptist in Walnut Ridge, Ark. Harding's next home action is Sept. 28 against Central Baptist.
