SEARCY, Ark. – Harding needed a home game to get its men's soccer season back on track.

After four straight on the road, Harding returned to the Stevens Soccer Field Saturday and defeated Southwest Baptist 3-0, scoring three second-half goals less than 20 minutes apart.

The victory moved Harding to 1-3-2 on the season with Great American Conference games beginning Thursday against Southern Nazarene. Southwest Baptist, a member of the MIAA, dropped to 0-5-0.

Harding did not score on 17 shots in the first half, but on its fifth shot of the second half, sophomore Christian Ramos took a short pass from Matheus Ribiero on the left side of the box and shot it in off the far post for his first goal of the season and the eventual game-winner.

Sophomore Braeden Grundy scored his first goal of the season in the 67th minute, corralling a looping pass from Jason Diaz and beating Southwest Baptist keeper Matt Garza.

The final goal came in the 74th minute on an Andre Cunha free kick. It was his third goal of the season.

Harding junior goalkeeper Michael Wasson recorded the shutout without making a save. Southwest Baptist had five shots but none on goal.


Facts and Figures
 
Harding had 31 shots in the game, a season high, and the most since shooting 32 times at Hendrix last season.

Southwest Baptist did not have a shot on goal, marking the first time Harding did not allow a shot on goal in a game. The previous low was one against Williams Baptist in 2012.

Wasson's shutout was his second of the season and 12th of his career.

Diaz's assist was the 11th of his career, moving him into sixth place on Harding's career list.

Southwest Baptist's John Clerveau received his second yellow card of the game in the 77th minute, and Harding played the rest of the game a man up.
 
 
Next Up
 
Harding plays its first GAC game Thursday at home at 7 p.m. against Southern Nazarene.