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Harding University Athletics

Ayaan Yousuf
1
Delta St. DSU (2-2-5, 1-1-2)
1
Harding HU (0-6-3, 0-3-0)
Delta St. DSU
(2-2-5, 1-1-2)
1
Final
1
Harding HU
(0-6-3, 0-3-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Delta St. DSU 1 0 1
Harding HU 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Yousuf's Late Strike Secures 1-1 Draw for Bisons Against Delta State

SEARCY, Ark. — Harding's resilient Bisons salvaged a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Delta State on Sunday, despite being a man down for the final 32 minutes.

The match began with both teams trading early chances. Harding's Lesego Maloma fired wide left in the third minute, while Delta State's Hardy Lewis tested Bisons goalkeeper Inigo Chavarria with a pair of shots in the 9th and 13th minutes.

Delta State's pressure paid off in the 20th minute when Lewis headed home Colby Nesbit's cross from the left, giving the Statesmen a 1-0 advantage.

Harding responded with several scoring opportunities, including a saved shot from Matheus Barbosa in the fifth minute and a corner kick in the 15th minute. The Bisons' best chance of the half came in the 24th minute when Maloma's shot was saved by Delta State goalkeeper Mason Baglio.

The second half saw Harding's Nojus Grudis receive a yellow card in the 49th minute, and his second yellow card just eight minutes later earned him an early exit, reducing the Bisons to 10 men.

Despite the disadvantage, Harding dug deep and found the equalizer in the 84th minute. Ayaan Yousuf capitalized on a failed clearance and fired home the tying goal.

Delta State pushed for a winner, but Harding's gritty defense held strong. Chavarria made crucial saves on shots from Alfie Lally and Eli Bailey, and the Bisons survived several corner kicks in the final minutes.

The draw drops Delta State, a member of the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference, to 2-2-5, while Harding moves to 0-6-3. The Bisons will look to build on this momentum in their next outing Thursday at home in GAC/MIAA action against Newman. The game begins at Stevens Soccer Field at 6 p.m.
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