Harding Men's Soccer Meet Oklahoma Baptist on Friday in GAC Tournament

No. 3 seed Harding (4-11-2, 2-3-1) vs. No. 2 seed Oklahoma Baptist (5-12-0, 3-3-0)
Date: Nov. 6, 2015
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Coaches: Harding - Odie Guzman (18-39-5, fourth season); Oklahoma Baptist – Anthony Yousey (15-36-0, third season)
Series: Tied 1-1 with both games played this season.

SEARCY – Harding men's soccer, the No. 3 seed, will take on No. 2 seed Oklahoma Baptist on Friday at 2 p.m. in the inaugural Great American Conference Tournament. Ouachita Baptist is the host team and No. 1. The Tigers will host No. 4 seed Southern Nazarene on Friday at 11 a.m. The championship game is Sunday at 2 p.m.

Harding and Oklahoma Baptist split their two games this season. The Bisons won the first meeting 4-0 in Searcy on Sept. 24. It was the highest goal output of the season for Harding. Junior forward Barry Foster scored just over two minutes into the game for the only goal of the first half. Foster struck again early in the second half, and freshman Jeremy Nwonumah and freshman Eric Prato added second-half goals. Sophomore Thomas Shults started in goal for Harding and had nine saves in the shutout.

The second meeting was Oct. 15 in Shawnee, Oklahoma, with Oklahoma Baptist winning 2-1. Harding again scored early in this one. Junior Jackson Buchanan gave Harding a 1-0 lead just over eight minutes in. Oklahoma Baptist equalized with a goal by Vicente Castillo in the 21st minutes. Matthew Giudice scored the game-winning goal in the 80th minute. Shults made six saves in goal for Harding.

HU Team News
Harding has scored 26 goals this season and allowed 41. Five players have scored multiple goals, led by junior Barry Foster with seven. Junior Jackson Buchanan has scored six, and senior Josiah Ireland has four. Buchanan and Ireland lead the team with four assists.

Barry Foster's seven goals are tied for seventh on Harding's single-season list. Sixth place is Luke Boren (2000) with 10. Foster has two game-winning goals. Harding's school record is three, held by three players.
Freshman Jason Diaz's 58 shots attempted are the most by any Harding player other than Ben Faris (81 in 2003 and 73 in 2002).

Thomas Shults has a 78.3 save percentage, which would set a new Harding record. The current record is 77.8 by Will Lynn in 2013.

Opponent Team News
Oklahoma Baptist has scored 27 goals this season and allowed 46. Vicente Castillo leads the team and the GAC with 10 goals and six assists.

Marcus Oliveria has played in 16 games as a goalkeeper and has 70 saves and two shutouts.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Jackson Buchanan: M; 5' 10"; Junior; Tulsa Blitz United NPL

#13 Barry Foster: F; 5' 6"; Junior; Solar Chelsea USSF Academy

#10 Josiah Ireland: M; 5' 8"; Senior; Little Rock FC

#0 Thomas Shults: GK; 6' 2"; Sophomore; St. Louis Scott Gallagher

#7 Jeremy Nwonumah: F; 6' 0"; Freshman; FC Dallas Blue

#2 Eric Prato: F; 5' 11"; Freshman; NCSF Elite

#4 Jason Diaz: F; 5' 5"; Freshman; Dallas Texans USSF Academy

Players Mentioned

#9 Jackson Buchanan
: 5' 10"; Junior; Tulsa Blitz United NPL
: M

#13 Barry Foster
: 5' 6"; Junior; Solar Chelsea USSF Academy
: F

#10 Josiah Ireland
: 5' 8"; Senior; Little Rock FC
: M

#0 Thomas Shults
: 6' 2"; Sophomore; St. Louis Scott Gallagher
: GK

#7 Jeremy Nwonumah
: 6' 0"; Freshman; FC Dallas Blue
: F

#2 Eric Prato
: 5' 11"; Freshman; NCSF Elite
: F

#4 Jason Diaz
: 5' 5"; Freshman; Dallas Texans USSF Academy
: F

Harding University Athletics

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Events

Harding Men's Soccer Meet Oklahoma Baptist on Friday in GAC Tournament

Players Mentioned

#9 Jackson Buchanan

#13 Barry Foster

#10 Josiah Ireland

#0 Thomas Shults

#7 Jeremy Nwonumah

#2 Eric Prato

#4 Jason Diaz

Players Mentioned

#9 Jackson Buchanan

#13 Barry Foster

#10 Josiah Ireland

#0 Thomas Shults

#7 Jeremy Nwonumah

#2 Eric Prato

#4 Jason Diaz