BETHANY, Okla. – Harding senior Jacob Stevens posted the first two-goal game of his career in leading the Bisons to a 2-1 road MIAA victory over Southern Nazarene on Thursday night.

Harding (1-2-0, 1-0-0) had not played in nine days since a 4-2 home loss to Ouachita Baptist but picked up its first victory of the season in its conference opener.

Southern Nazarene (1-5-0, 0-1-0) was also playing its MIAA opener but lost its fourth straight overall and dropped to 0-4-0 at home this season.

Stevens' first goal came in the 33rd minute on a cross from Gehrig Haberstock. Stevens then scored the eventual game-winning goal less than three minutes later on a shot from near midfield that sailed over the head of Southern Nazarene goalkeeper Dakota Ellicott, who made his first start in goal Thursday.

Southern Nazarene's Matthew Lawrence cut Harding's lead to 2-1 just before halftime, but the Crimson Storm managed only two shots on goal in the second half and never found the equalizing goal.

Harding has now won four of its six meetings with Southern Nazarene, including three of four in Bethany.

Stevens now has three goals in five career games against Southern Nazarene and scored his fourth career game-winning goal. He has eight total goals in his Bison career.

Thursday's game was the first of four straight on the road for Harding. The Bisons remain in Oklahoma and play Oklahoma Christian in a non-conference game on Saturday at 3 p.m. in the first-ever meeting between the schools in men's soccer.