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SEARCY – The Harding women's soccer team opens the 2014 campaign at home as it hosts the Great American Conference/Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Challenge on Friday and Sunday at the Stevens Soccer Complex. The Lady Bisons will face Missouri Western on Friday at 7 p.m. and Emporia State on Sunday at 3 p.m.
Harding
Harding, who finished with an 8-9-1 record last season and also placed second at the 2013 GAC Tournament Championship, returns seven starters and 13 letterwinners from last year's squad.
Top returning goal scorers for the Lady Bisons include junior midfielder Audrey Adkison (4 goals, 3 assists), sophomore midfielder Averie Albright (3 goals, 1 assist) and junior midfielder Melissa Minnich (3 goals). Junior Kaitlyn Miller (5 shutouts in 2013) returns as goalkeeper for Harding.
Dr. Greg Harris (the reigning GAC Coach of the Year) returns for this 14th season as head coach.
Missouri Western
Missouri Western, an NCAA Division II member of the MIAA, is from St. Joseph, Missouri and has an enrollment of 6,010.
The Griffons went 2-14-2 last season and 0-10-1 in the MIAA and finished 12th.
Missouri Western returns its top goal scorer, Tara Russell who had four goals and one assist.
Chad Edwards returns for his fourth season as head coach of the Griffons.
Emporia State
Emporia State, an NCAA Division II member of the MIAA, is from Emporia, Kansas and has an enrollment of 5,976.
The Hornets went 9-8-3 last season and 4-4-3 in the MIAA to finish seventh.
Emporia State also returns its top goal scorer, McKenzie Koch, who had five goals and one assist.
Bryan Sailer returns for his fourth season as head coach of the Hornets.
Series
It will be the first time Harding has met either team.
