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Harding University Athletics

Stefano Silva
2
Winner Harding HAR (5-8-1, 3-5-0)
1
Newman NEW (3-7-3, 2-5-1)
Winner
Harding HAR
(5-8-1, 3-5-0)
2
Final
1
Newman NEW
(3-7-3, 2-5-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Harding HAR 1 1 2
Newman NEW 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Scott Goode (10/19/23)

Silva's Spectacular Form Powers Harding to Road Victory Over Newman

WICHITA, Kan. – Senior Stefano Silva scored his fourth goal in two games, leading Harding to a 2-1 victory over Newman in GAC/MIAA men's soccer action on Thursday at Wilkins Field.

Harding improved to 5-8-1 overall and 3-5-0 in GAC/MIAA action, securing nine points and moving into fifth place in the conference standings, where the top four teams qualify for the conference tournament. Newman, on the other hand, suffered its third loss in the last four games, falling to 3-7-3 overall and 2-5-1 in the conference, placing the Jets in sixth out of seven conference teams with seven points.

Harding took an early 1-0 lead in the 25th minute with Jonah Pastiroff's third goal of the season, assisted by Ignacio Arsuaga. The Bisons maintained their one-goal lead going into halftime.

Newman managed to equalize the game with a goal in the 48th minute, but Harding regained the lead in the 73rd minute with Silva's fifth goal of the season, assisted by Pastiroff.

Team Notes
- After scoring only two first-half goals in its first 12 games, Harding has netted four first-half goals in its last two matches.
- This road victory marked Harding's third of the season, the most since the Bisons won four on the road in 2019.
- For the second time this season, Harding has won consecutive games.
- Harding set a season-high and tied the school record with six yellow cards in the game. They managed to hold onto the lead even while playing with a one-man disadvantage in the final five minutes after Elliott Bracy received the team's fifth red card of the season in the 86th minute. Harding also had six yellows last season vs. Mississippi College.

Individual Notes
- Pastiroff achieved a goal and an assist in a game for the first time in his two-year Bison career, accumulating eight points (three goals, two assists) in Harding's last four games.
- Silva, the GAC/MIAA reigning Offensive Player of the Week, secured his first career hat-trick in Harding's last game, a 4-1 victory over Ouachita Baptist. Silva's goal was his ninth career goal, the second game-winning goal of the season, and the third of his career.
- Arsuaga provided an assist on the opening goal, his second of the season. He also assisted on a goal in HU's 2-0 victory at Ouachita on Sept. 21.
- Defender Jacob Hernandez, Pastiroff, and midfielder Jimmy Tuyishime all played the full 90 minutes. Hernandez completed his sixth consecutive 90-minute effort, Pastiroff achieved his third of the season, and Tuyishime secured his third consecutive full match.
- Senior goalkeeper Jared Nitz earned his fifth win of the season, setting a new career high, surpassing his previous best of four wins in his junior season.

Series Notes
- Harding now leads the series 5-2-2 overall and 3-1-1 in Wichita. The Bisons have won three of the last five meetings overall and have two wins and a tie in the last three meetings in Wichita.

Up Next
- Harding will play its second consecutive game in Kansas on Saturday when it faces Fort Hays State in Hays at 11 a.m. Fort Hays State ranks third in the conference standings with 11 points.
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