SEARCY – Harding opened the 2015 season with a 1-1 tie with Dallas Baptist on Thursday at Stevens Field. It was the first time the 16-year program history that the Bisons went to overtime in their season opener.
RECORDS
Harding and Dallas Baptist both open the season 0-0-1. Dallas Baptist holds the series lead 3-2-1 after the tie.
GOALS
Dallas Baptist 1, Harding 0 – 30th minute – Dallas Baptist's Riley Alvey's back-heel pass in traffic in the 18-yard box found sub Brooks Friedman on the right side of the 6-yard box. Friedman's tap-in gave the Patriots the halftime lead.
Harding 1, Dallas Baptist 1 – 55th minute – Harding's Jackson Buchanan sent a long pass along the ground down the left side that Barry Foster ran onto. He cut back against two defenders and scored despite an extremely tough angle to the far post.
TEAM STATS
Dallas Baptist had only three first-half goals last season but took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
Harding had a 16-14 shots advantage and outshot Dallas Baptist 4-2 in the two 10-minute overtime periods.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Barry Foster's goal was the sixth of his career. He is Harding's active goal-scoring leader. Buchanan's assist was the third of his career.
Friedman's goal came less than five minutes after he entered the game as a substitute.
Freshman Jason Diaz led Harding with four shots, and Riley Alvey also had four shots for Dallas Baptist.
QUOTES
Harding head coach Odie Guzman: "We got off to a slow start. Late in the first half we finally got a rhythm going. Their goal came on a little miscommunication in the back. In the second half, we knew we were a team that could keep momentum going and get back in the game.
Harding forward Barry Foster on his goal: "I saw the seam, and I felt that I had the opportunity to run through. Jackson gave me a perfect ball. The angle was tough at first, and I could not hit it with my left. I had to cut it back and roof it. That was my only chance."
UP NEXT
Harding hosts Oklahoma Christian on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Stevens Field in Searcy.
