SEARCY, Ark. — Second-half goals from Maddie Adams and Blair Rowlett propelled the Harding women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over East Central on Saturday afternoon at the Stevens Soccer Complex, clinching the Great American Conference Regular Season Championship.
With the victory, the Lady Bisons (9-4-3, 8-1-2 GAC) secured the league's regular season crown and earned the right to host the GAC Tournament next weekend in Searcy. Harding will take on the No. 4 seed Friday at a time to be announced later.
East Central concluded its campaign at 1-16-0 overall and 1-10-0 in conference play.
After a scoreless opening 45 minutes in which Harding held a 13-2 shot advantage, the Lady Bisons finally broke the deadlock in the 67th minute. Gabie Eddins slipped a through ball down the left wing to Adams, who drove a strike into the upper right corner of the net for her first goal of the season to give Harding a 1-0 lead.
Harding doubled the margin at the 83:23 mark on a set-piece connection. Claire Citty served a free kick from just outside the penalty box, finding Rowlett for a header into the net for her first collegiate goal.
The Tigers answered 45 seconds later in the 85th minute, cutting the deficit to 2-1 when Addisyn Brown one-touched a corner kick from Aroa Pena past Lady Bison goalkeeper Maysa Willis. However, Harding's back line held firm over the final five minutes to close out the win and seal the title.
Harding controlled the tempo throughout the contest, outshooting East Central 24-6 overall and 7-5 in shots on goal, while also generating a 10-1 edge in corner kicks.
Willis tallied four saves over 90 minutes to pick up the win in net for Harding. Alexandra Naill collected five saves in a full 90-minute shift for East Central.
Tournament seeding, semifinal matchups, and game times for next weekend's GAC Tournament at the Stevens Soccer Complex will be announced by the conference office.
