SEARCY – The Harding women's soccer team travels to Ada, Okla., on Thursday to take on East Central in Great American Conference action at 4 p.m. The Lady Bisons head into the game with a 5-10-1 overall record and a 5-2-1 GAC record.
HARDING
Harding will play the rest of its regular season games on the road. The Lady Bisons play their third of four games on Thursday. Harding is 2-3-1 on the road this season.
The Lady Bisons are currently in second place in the GAC standings behind Southern Nazarene. The top four teams advance to the GAC Tournament held at the home of regular season champions Nov. 7 and 9.
The Lady Bisons are coming off a 2-1 win at Northwestern Oklahoma on Saturday. Freshman forward Carley Stevens scored her first career goal in the 10th minute of the game and junior midfielder Audrey Adkison converted a penalty kick for Harding's second goal.
Harding is led by Adkison who has seven goals ranking her tied for fourth in the GAC. Junior midfielder Adair Schmidt has five goals which ranks tied for sixth in the conference and sophomore midfielder Melissa Minnich has three goals. Adkison leads the team and ranks second in the GAC in assists with eight. Sophomore midfielder Averie Albright has two goals on the season and six other players have one goal for Harding.
Harding's 23 goals is the most the Lady Bisons have scored in a season since 2010 when Harding scored 25.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 14.0 shots per game and 1.44 goals per game.
Harding ranks second in the GAC in conference games in goals with 20. They also rank tied for first in assists with 13. The Lady Bisons have scored six goals off corner kicks in conference play this season. Harding ranks first in conference games with 53 corners.
Harding is coached by Dr. Greg Harris who is in his 14th season at the helm.
EAST CENTRAL
East Central heads into the game with a 6-6-2 overall record and a 3-3-1 GAC record. The Tigers are currently in fourth place in the GAC standings and are fighting for the last spot in the GAC Tournament.
The game on Thursday will be East Central's fourth straight home game. The Tigers are 5-2-0 at home this season.
East Central is coming off a 2-0 loss to Southern Nazarene last Friday in GAC action. It was the fourth time this season the Tigers have been shutout. Their GAC wins include a 2-1 overtime victory at home against Southwestern Oklahoma and a 2-1 home win against Northwestern Oklahoma. The Tigers also defeated Southern Nazarene 1-0 in Bethany, Oklahoma.
East Central is led by senior forward Milan Galloway who has six goals on the season. Nine other players have scored for the Tigers this season.
East Central is led in goal by junior goalkeeper Taylor Lowe who averages 4.6 saves per game.
The Tigers are coached by Riley Bailey who is in his sixth season as head coach.
SERIES
East Central leads the series 7-2-0.
Harding has won the last two games including a 3-0 win in Searcy earlier this season. Katelyn Tschiggfrie, Averie Albright and Adair Schmidt scored Harding's goals.
The Tigers lead the series in Ada 4-1. The Lady Bisons only win came in 2012 when Harding won in double-overtime 2-1.
