WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The Harding women's soccer team tied Southwestern Oklahoma 2-2 after regulation. Neither team scored in two periods of overtime which set up a shootout for the Great American Conference Tournament Championship. Jessica Woessner had a save in sudden death which allowed Sierra Phillips to win it for the Lady Bisons when she found the back of the net.
It was Harding's second straight and second overall GAC Tournament Championship. The Lady Bisons defeated Southwestern Oklahoma 5-3 last season in Searcy.
The Lady Bisons will find out who and where they are playing on Monday at 5 p.m., when the NCAA field is announced.
RECORDS
No. 3 seed Harding improves to 11-6-2 on the season and No. 1 seed Southwestern Oklahoma ends their season with a 12-4-3 record. It was the second time in GAC history a No. 3 seed won the championship. Ouachita defeated Southern Nazarene in 2014.
GOALS
Harding 1, Southwestern Okla. 0 – 34th minute – Emma Chilton took a shot that was saved by the Southwestern Oklahoma goalkeeper. She followed her shot and found the back of the net off the rebound. It was Chilton's fifth goal of the season.
Harding 2, Southwestern Okla. 0 – 74th minute – For the second time this season Melita Sutherland sent a cross into the box which allowed sister Bethany Sutherland to head it in. It was Bethany's 14th goal of the season.
Harding 2, Southwestern Okla. 1 – 86th minute – Sandra Nabweteme found the back of the net for her 21st goal of the season.
Harding 2, Southwestern Okla. 2 – 87th minute – Sandra Nabweteme scored her 22nd goal of the season when she converted a penalty kick. Alimata Rabo was fouled in the box for Southwestern Oklahoma.
SHOOTOUT
Round 1
Southwestern Okla. – Sandra Nabweteme's shot was saved – 0
Harding – Bethany Sutherland scored - 1
Round 2
Southwestern Okla. – Erica Brunet scored - 1
Harding – Mattilyn Reeder scored - 2
Round 3
Southwestern Okla. – Mikah Stroh scored - 2
Harding – Rachel Bacon scored – 3
Round 4
Southwestern Okla. – Alimata Rabo's shot was saved - 2
Harding – Melita Sutherland's shot went high - 3
Round 5
Southwestern Okla. – Lauren Williams scored - 3
Harding – Morgan Springborn's shot was saved - 3
Round 6 – Sudden Death
Southwestern Okla. – Sarah Wilson scored - 4
Harding – Jessica Woessner scored - 4
Round 7 – Sudden Death
Southwestern Okla. – Olivia Butler scored - 5
Harding – Emma Chilton scored - 5
Round 8 – Sudden Death
Southwestern Okla. – Kirstyn Eustace's shot was saved - 5
Harding – Sierra Phillips scored - 6
TEAM STATS
It was Harding's second overall conference tournament championship.
It was the second straight year the Lady Bisons have defeated Southwestern Oklahoma in the tournament championship.
It was Harding's first shootout in school history.
Harding took 15 shots in the game, nine were on goal.
Southwestern Oklahoma took 23 shots, nine were on goal.
Harding had five players play the full 110 minutes.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Harding had five players that earned a spot on the GAC All-Tournament team – Bethany Sutherland, Hannah Wilhelm, Carley Stevens, Melita Sutherland and Jessica Woessner. Woessner also earned the Tournament Most Valuable Player award. It was the second straight year a freshman has won the MVP award. Lady Bison Mika Richards won it last season.
Harding was led by Bethany Sutherland, Morgan Springborn and Emma Chilton who each had four shots.
Lady Bison goalkeeper Jessica Woessner had seven saves.
Southwestern Oklahoma was led by Alimata Rabo and Sandra Nabweteme who each had nine shots, four were on goal.
QUOTE
Harding head coach Dr. Greg Harris: "The ladies played with fire today! They dealt with adversity twice and had the resilience to come back. Proud of them!"
