SEARCY – Harding junior Barry Foster scored early in each half and sophomore goalkeeper Thomas Shults made a career-high nine saves as the Bisons blanked Oklahoma Baptist 4-0 in both teams' Great American Conference opener. This is the first season the GAC has sponsored men's soccer.

RECORDS
Harding improved to 2-4-1 overall and 1-0-0 in the GAC. The Bisons have won their last three conference openers, defeating Southern Nazarene each of the last two seasons in MIAA play. Oklahoma Baptist fell to 1-8-0 overall and 0-1-0 in the GAC. The Bison have lost their last five games overall and all six of their road games.

GOALS
Harding 1, Oklahoma Baptist 0 – 3rd minute – Harding freshman Jason Diaz eluded several defenders all the goal line and sent a cross to Foster, who calmly scored his fourth goal of the season. It was Diaz's first assist.

Harding 2, Oklahoma Baptist 0 – 48th minute – Just under three minutes into the second half, Foster got loose down the left sideline and received a long pass from Jeremy Rector. He scored inside the far post for his fifth goal of the season. It was also Rector's first assist.

Harding 3, Oklahoma Baptist 0 – 52nd minute – Foster raced down the right sideline with a 40-yard dribble, crossed it to the middle of the field to Josiah Ireland, who sent it over to freshman Jeremy Nwonumah. His first-touch shot beat the goalkeeper to the far post. It was his first collegiate goal, Ireland's team-leading third assist and Foster's first.

Harding 4, Oklahoma Baptist 0 – 83rd minute – Sophomore Van Cung slithered a pass through two Oklahoma Baptist defenders and found a racing Eric Prato on the right side. Prato chipped the ball over the on-rushing goalkeeper for his first career goal.

TEAM STATS
Harding's four goals are a season high. The last time the Bisons scored four at home was in a 4-1 victory over Southwest Baptist on Oct. 23, 2014.

The shutout was Harding's first of the season and first since a 2-0 blanking of Southern Nazarene on Oct. 25, 2014.

INDIVIDUAL STATS
The two-goal game was Foster's second of the season. With the assist, he recorded his first five-point game. Foster also had two goals against Southwest Baptist.

Foster's first goal was the game-winner. It was his second game-winning goal of the season and third of his career.

Shults recorded his second career shutout and had a career-high nine saves, including seven in the first half. His other shutout came against Ouachita on Oct. 21, 2014.

UP NEXT
Harding remains in GAC play Saturday when it hosts Southern Nazarene. The Crimson Storm opened GAC play Thursday with a 4-3 loss at Ouachita.