SEARCY – The Harding women's soccer team opens its 13th season of intercollegiate action Saturday at the Harding Soccer Field, as it hosts Palm Beach Atlantic at 1 p.m. It is the first of 18 regular season games for the Lady Bisons and the first of eight to be played in Searcy.
HARDING IN SEASON OPENERS
The Lady Bisons are 4-6-2 in their previous 12 season openers. Last season, Harding tied Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1-1 in the first game of the season. The Bisons last win in an opener was a 4-2 victory over Northeastern State in 2007.
HARDING'S RETURNING PLAYERS
Harding returns six starters and 12 letterwinners off last season's team that finished 3-10-4 overall and 1-4-2 in the Gulf South Conference.
The Lady Bisons return two starting forwards in junior Chelsea Brandon and junior Paola Eusse. Brandon, who led Harding with four goals last season, will likely start as an outside midfielder in 2010. Senior Brianna Meek (3 goals, 3 assists in 2009) is Harding's lone returning midfield starter. On defense, seniors Hayley Withrow (1 assist) and Shayna Nail (1 assist) return in 2010. Withrow could also move to the midfield this season.
Harding returns both of its starting goalkeepers from the last two seasons. Senior Hannah Douglas started last season, and senior Chelsea Hornbeck started in 2008. Both will see action early in the season.
Other returning letterwinners back from last season's squad are Meghan Przeczewski, Jessica Kirkham, Hagen Atkins, Sabrina Burch, Lauren Scharf and Lauren Hawes.
Seven newcomers will be on the squad for the opener.
A LOOK AT PALM BEACH ATLANTIC
Palm Beach Atlantic, an independent member of the NCAA Division II, is located in West Palm Beach, Fla. The Sailfish finished 11-9-1 last season, scoring 36 goals in 21 games. Doing the bulk of the scoring for Palm Beach Atlantic last season was then-junior Angie Kuhn, who had 15 goals and four assists and earned 3rd Team All-Region honors. She had two assists in last season's game against Harding. The Sailfish will have to replace starting goalkeeper Ashley Morrell, a four-year starter.
HARDING-PALM BEACH ATLANTIC SERIES
Last season, Palm Beach Atlantic defeated Harding 4-2 in Searcy in the first meeting between the schools. Tabitha McReynolds scored both Lady Bison goals in the game.
A LOOK AHEAD
The Lady Bisons take on their only NCAA Division I opponent of the season Tuesday when they meet Arkansas-Pine Bluff on the road. Start time in Pine Bluff is 4 p.m.
