WICHITA, Kan. — A pair of first-half goals by Newman proved to be the difference Thursday night as the Harding men's soccer team dropped a 2-0 Great American Conference decision at Wilkins Field.
Newman (4-11-1, 3-6-1 GAC) seized control early in the opening period. The Jets broke through in the 14th minute (13:36) when Io Shono scored an unassisted goal to put the hosts ahead 1-0. Newman doubled its lead in the 26th minute (25:57) as Gael Gonzalez found the back of the net off an assist from Daiki Okada.
Harding (0-15-0, 0-9-0 GAC) responded with heavy pressure in the second half, generating 11 shot attempts after being limited to one in the opening 45 minutes. 1st-year forward Zech Christman paced the second-half attack off the bench, firing three shots and forcing two saves from Newman goalkeeper Guilherme Borges. 1st-year defender Quin Brice also put a shot on frame in the 70th minute, while 4th-year forward Reik Barrack and 3rd-year forward Nojus Grudis each registered multiple shot attempts, but the Bisons were unable to break through.
Match Notes
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In Net: 2nd-year goalkeeper Dillon Hart played all 90 minutes for Harding, recording six saves (two in the first half, four in the second half). Borges stopped three shots to secure the clean sheet for Newman.
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Shot Totals: Newman finished with a 26-12 advantage in total shots and an 8-3 edge in shots on goal. The Jets also held a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.
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Discipline: The match was played cleanly throughout, with each side whistled for eight fouls and zero cautions or ejections issued.
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Season Series: The Jets completed a regular-season sweep of the Bisons, having previously defeated Harding 2-0 in Searcy on Sept. 26.
Up Next
Harding concludes its Kansas road trip Saturday, Oct. 24, traveling to Hays, Kan., to face Fort Hays State. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 a.m.
