Box ScoreSEARCY, Ark. – Harding got off the mark quickly to beat SWOSU 2-1 in conference play. Anne Fitzgerald and Mary-Margaret Kirkman scored for Harding.
Charlotte Eastman got one back for the Bulldogs in the second half.
The Bulldogs looked to take the lead within the first five minutes as
Jasmine Heffley and
Eva Rule forced Harding keeper Kaitlyn Miller into two saves. Heffley collected the ball off a failed clearance and put in a shot from outside the box within the first two minutes. Miller was equal to the shot and recorded her first save of the game. Rule then fired a shot destined for upper left corner, but Miller pulled off a one handed save in order to save it.
Though the Bulldogs looked the better side, it was Harding that would take the lead. Fitzgerald scored when she took a shot from the top left corner of the box. The shot took a deflection and found the back of the net.
SWOSU fought hard to get back into the game and earned a corner in the 19th minute. Eastman sent the ball towards the goal with a strong header, but it was cleared off the line. Rule collected the rebound and sent another shot in which was also blocked.
Lauren Williams took a final shot which was also blocked by a desperate Harding side and cleared from the box. Two minutes later,
Payton Warren took a shot that clanged off the crossbar.
Harding extended their lead in the 37th minute. Adair Schmidt took a shot that Flores saved. The save rebounded to Kirkman's feet and she sent the ball into the net. SWOSU went into the locker room trailing 2-0.
The second half was largely a defensive battle between the two sides. However, a corner for the Bulldogs ended the shooting draught.
Olivia Butler whipped in an in-swinging corner and Eastman rose highest to meet it. She made no mistake this time and placed the ball into the upper left corner in the 75th minute.
Warren almost pulled the Bulldogs level in the 86th minute. She was sent in on goal by a nice through ball down the right side of the field and put in a low hard shot to the right of goal. Miller saved the shot, ending the threat. The Lady Bison saw out the remaining minutes of the match to seal the 2-1 victory.
SWOSU fall to 1-7-1 on the season and 1-2 in conference play. They will go into their match Sunday at 1 PM against Ouachita Baptist searching for their first road win of the season.
