Box Score

CLEVELAND - The Lady Statesmen of Delta State University inched one step closer to a postseason tournament berth Friday with a 3-2 victory over the Lady Bisons of Harding University at Delta Field.  Delta State improved to 8-4-2 on the season and 2-1 in Gulf South Conference play with the win.  Harding dropped to 5-6 overall and 0-2 in league play.  

A trio of Lady Statesmen found the back of the net to power the Delta State attack after falling behind 1-0 to the Lady Bisons at the 12:58 mark of the first half.  HU's Chelsea Brandon blasted a shot past Lady Statesmen keeper Sarah Prevost for the score.  

Delta State tied it up at 1-1 on Ashley Cechovsky's eighth goal of the season, a booming kick past Lady Bisons keeper Chelsea Hornbeck, in the fourteenth minute.  

Delta State's Erin Smith made it 2-1 Lady Statesmen just four minutes later on a blast to the back of the net.  

The half would end with DSU holding a 2-1 advantage.  

In the second frame, the Lady Statesmen added their third goal on a beautiful play setup by Erin Smith's cross to Laura Swanson.  Swanson didn't give Hornbeck a chance, as the Oshkosh, Wisc., native burried the ball past her out-stretched hands.

The Lady Bisons would make it a game late in the second half, as Kyra LeCocq scored a shot that banged off the post for a 3-2 DSU lead in the 82nd minute.  

Delta State would fight off the late Harding rally to preserve the win.  

Sarah Prevost earned the win with a brilliant performance in goal.  Prevost, a redshirt freshman from Brandon, recorded five saves on eight shots in the win.  

Chelsea Hornbeck took the loss after allowing three goals on seven shots.  

The Lady Statesmen will return to the field Sunday versus Ouachita Baptist for "Senior Day."  Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Delta Field.  "Senior Day" festivities will take place at halftime.