SEARCY – Freshman forward Bethany Sutherland broke Harding's single season goals mark, scoring her 18th goal as the Harding women's soccer team defeated Southwestern Oklahoma 5-1 in Great American Conference action on Saturday in the rain. After the game, Harding recognized six seniors for their contributions to the Harding soccer program – goalkeeper Kaitlyn Miller, defender Ellie Buttram, defender Larkin Hatcher, midfielder Ashley Sampson, midfielder Audrey Adkison and midfielder Melissa Minnich.
RECORDS
Harding improves to 12-2-2 overall and 9-0-1 in the GAC. Southwestern Oklahoma falls to 11-4-1 overall and 7-2-1 in the GAC.
GOALS
Southwestern Oklahoma 1, Harding 0 – 3rd minute – Samantha Nunez stole the ball away on Harding's end and found the back of the net.
Southwestern Oklahoma 1, Harding 1 – 18th minute – Audrey Adkison found Mika Richards off a corner kick.
Harding 2, Southwestern Oklahoma 1 – 20th minute – Audrey Adkison found Mika Richards off a corner kick.
Harding 3, Southwestern Oklahoma 1 – 55th minute – Bethany Sutherland stole the ball away on Southwestern Oklahoma's defensive end and found the upper right corner of the net from 30 yards out.
Harding 4, Southwestern Oklahoma 1 – 72th minute – Rachel Bacon collected the loose ball, shot to far post from 15 yards out.
Harding 5, Southwestern Oklahoma 1 – 89th minute – Larkin Hatcher hit a cross from the corner to the penalty shot area, for Bethany Sutherland to clean up.
TEAM STATS
The Lady Bisons have not lost in 14 games. Harding has won 12 times and has tied twice during its streak. The Lady Bisons have won their last seven straight games.
The Lady Bisons nine conference wins is the most wins in school history. Harding has won six, four times.
With the win, Harding extended its lead in the GAC standings. The winner of the GAC regular season will host the conference tournament Nov. 5-7.
It was the Lady Bisons 12th win of the season and the second most wins in school history. Harding won 15 games in 2004.
The Lady Bisons took 15 shots in the game and held Southwestern Oklahoma to eight shots.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Bethany Sutherland tied and then broke the Harding record for the most goals in a season with 18. It broke Kendyl Washburn's (2004-07) and Chelsea Brandon's (2008-11) record of 17 goals in a season. Washburn had 17 in 2007 and Brandon scored as many in 2008.
It was Audrey Adkison's team leading sixth and seventh assists of the season.
It was freshman defenders Mika Richard's first and second goals of the season.
QUOTE
Harding Head Coach Dr. Greg Harris: "The conditions were not ideal, but our ladies found a way to get it done against a very tough SWOSU team. We dealt with early adversity and it made us stronger. Proud of our ladies."
UP NEXT
Harding will be back in action on Tuesday when it travels to Arkadelphia, Arkansas to face Ouachita for a 3 p.m., kickoff. The Tigers are in second place in the GAC standings.
