SEARCY – The Harding women's soccer team will travel to Bethany, Okla., on Saturday to take on Southern Nazarene in Great American Conference action for a shot at the conference regular season championship and the chance to host the GAC Tournament.
HARDING
Harding will be playing its final regular season game on Saturday on the road. The Lady Bisons are in their fourth of four game road trip. Harding is 3-3-1 on the road this season.
The Lady Bisons are currently in second place in the GAC standings behind Southern Nazarene by a half game. Harding heads into the game with a 6-10-1 overall record and a 6-2-1 GAC record. If they beat Southern Nazarene on Saturday Harding will be the conference regular season champions.
The Lady Bisons have won or tied their last three games. Harding tied Southwestern Oklahoma 0-0 in double overtime and then beat Northwestern Oklahoma 2-1 and beat East Central 1-0 in overtime.
Harding is led by junior midfielder Audrey Adkison who has seven goals, ranking fourth in the GAC. Junior midfielder Adair Schmidt has five goals which ranks tied for seventh 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 seven other players have one goal for Harding.
Harding's 24 goals is the most the Lady Bisons have scored in a season since 2010 when Harding scored 25.
The Lady Bisons are averaging 13.8 shots per game and 1.41 goals per game.
Harding ranks second in the GAC in conference games in goals with 23. The Lady Bisons have scored six goals off corner kicks in conference play this season. Harding ranks first in conference games with 60 corners.
Harding is coached by Dr. Greg Harris who is in his 14th season at the helm.
SOUTHERN NAZARENE
Southern Nazarene heads into the game with a 9-8-0 overall record and a 7-2-0 GAC record. The Crimson Storm has won its last five GAC games. Their last conference loss came at Ouachita Baptist as they fell 3-2 in Arkadelphia, Ark.
Southern Nazarene is 4-2-0 at home this season. Its other conference loss came at home against East Central as the Tigers defeated the Crimson Storm 2-1 in overtime.
Southern Nazarene is led by senior forward Mallary Pineda who has nine goals which ranks third in the GAC. She also has seven assists which ranks third in the GAC.
The Crimson Storm is led in goal by sophomore goalkeeper Natasha Fuentes who has five shutouts on the season and averages four saves per game.
Southern Nazarene is coached by Julie Duncan who is in her fifth season as head coach.
SERIES
Southern Nazarene leads the series 3-1-2.
Harding will be looking for its first win in Bethany as the Lady Bisons hold a 0-1-2 record there.
When the two teams met in Searcy earlier this season, Southern Nazarene won 3-2. Harding's goal scorers were Adair Schmidt and Hannah Wilhelm.
