SEARCY – The Harding women's soccer team is set to take on Ouachita Baptist in the first round of the Great American Conference Tournament at 11 a.m., on Friday in Bethany, Okla. The Lady Bisons head into the game with a 6-11-1 overall record.
HARDING
The Lady Bisons received the No. 2 seed in the tournament after going 6-3-1 in conference action this season. It is the first time in the GAC era that Harding has been the No. 2 seed. The Lady Bisons were the No. 2 seed only once before when they were in the Gulf South Conference. Harding advanced to the finals in 2004 but fell to Christian Brothers 4-3 in overtime.
The Lady Bisons hold a 1-3 record in the GAC Tournament. Harding advanced to the finals last season after a 1-0 win over Ouachita Baptist but fell to Southwestern Oklahoma 2-0. The Lady Bisons only goal at the GAC Tournament was last season against the Tigers when junior midfielder Melissa Minnich found the back of the net.
Friday will be Harding's first neutral site game this season.
In the last four games of the regular season, the Lady Bisons went 2-1-1. Harding's wins came at Northwestern Oklahoma 2-1 and at East Central 1-0 in overtime. The Lady Bisons had a shot at the regular season championship in the final game of the season at Southern Nazarene but fell to the Crimson Storm 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 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 13.3 shots per game and 1.33 goals per game.
Harding ranked second in the GAC in conference games in goals with 21. The Lady Bisons have scored six goals off corner kicks in conference play this season. Harding ranked second in conference games with 59 corners and ranked tied for second in shutouts with three.
Harding is coached by Dr. Greg Harris who is in his 14th season at the helm.
OUACHITA BAPTIST
Ouachita Baptist heads into the game with a 6-11-1 overall record and will be the No. 3 seed after going 5-5-0 in conference games.
The Tigers hold a 0-2-0 record at neutral site games this season. Ouachita Baptist played Texas A&M-International both games and fell 2-1 in the first game in San Antonio, Texas and then fell 3-1 in Frisco, Texas.
Ouachita Baptist is coming off a 2-1 win over East Central Monday afternoon in Arkadelphia. The game was originally rained out but had to be made up for seeding purposes after East Central beat the Tigers in Ada, Okla., 2-1 last Saturday.
Ouachita Baptist is led by junior forward Haley Hatcher who ranks first in the GAC in goals with 17. The Tigers have scored 30 goals on the season which ranks third in the GAC.
Ouachita Baptist is coached by Kevin Wright.
SERIES
Harding leads the series 12-8-2.
The two teams split when they met each other during the regular season. Harding won the first contest in Arkadelphia, 6-1 but fell to Ouachita Baptist 5-3 in Searcy. Audrey Adkison had a hat-trick in the first meeting and then had a goal and two assists in the second meeting for Harding.
The Lady Bisons are 1-1 against the Tigers on a neutral field. Besides last season at the GAC Tournament Harding lost to Ouachita Baptist 1-0 in the GSC Tournament in 2006.
Harding has won three out of the last four meetings.
