SEARCY – Senior Stefano Silva scored the first three goals for Harding and assisted in the fourth as the Bisons defeated Ouachita Baptist 4-1 on Thursday at Stevens Soccer Complex. It was their second victory over the Tigers this season.

Harding improved to 4-8-1 overall and 2-5-0 in GAC/MIAA action, earning six points and moving into fifth place in the conference standings. Ouachita remained winless in its last 20 games and fell to 0-9-3 overall and 0-4-2 in conference play.

Silva, who had only scored one goal this season entering Senior Night, wasted no time and found the net in less than four minutes, capitalizing on a cross from Seth Albritton. In the 18th minute, he netted his second goal when Ouachita's goalkeeper deflected Jonah Pastiroff's pass directly to Silva. His third goal came from a penalty kick just after the 30-minute mark.

Ouachita managed to score in the 36th minute, but Silva sent a long through ball to Elliott Bracy for the final goal in the 69th minute.

TEAM NOTES

• Harding scored three first-half goals, a significant improvement considering they had only scored two goals in the first half in the first 12 games of the season.
• The four goals marked a season-high and were the most since scoring four at Newman on September 9, 2022.
• This victory ended a five-game losing streak and was Harding's first win since defeating Ouachita 2-0 in Arkadelphia on September 21.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Silva's three-goal game was the first of his career and the first game with three or more goals by a Bison player since Christian Ramos scored four against Oklahoma Baptist on October 19, 2019.
• Silva achieved his three goals within 26 minutes and 24 seconds, making it the fourth-shortest span for a Harding player to score three goals. He was the first Harding player to accomplish this feat in under 30 minutes since Phillip McCormick set the Harding record by scoring three in just five minutes and 40 seconds against Rust in 2008.
• With three goals and an assist (seven points), Silva recorded the 11th game in program history with seven or more points and only the second since 2008.
• Silva's assist was his third, tying him for the team lead with Albritton and Pastiroff, both of whom recorded their third assists in the game.

SERIES NOTES

• Harding now leads the all-time series 21-14-5 and has won the last five matches against Ouachita. The Bisons hold a 14-6 series lead at home and have won the last five home matches.

UP NEXT

• Harding will enjoy a week off before traveling to Kansas for its next two games. The Bisons will face Newman in Wichita on October 19 and Fort Hays State in Hays on October 21.