Box Score SEARCY, Ark.—The Statesmen soccer team traveled to Arkansas for a pivotal Friday match against Harding University. Once again for the Statesmen, regulation was not enough to decide the match. However, it was the Bison who came though with an extra time goal to come away with a 1-0 win.

The match was competitive throughout. In the first half, the Statesmen (4-10, 0-3 GSC) managed six shots, while the Bison (6-9-1, 1-2 GSC) took 12. Junior goalkeeper Flavio Romero made five saves for the Statesmen in the opening 45 minutes. Keeper Zack Auala made three saves in the first half for Harding.

The Bison took three shots in the second half, with all three being stopped by Romero.

With the match still scoreless, both teams went into extra time looking for the game-winning goal. The first 10-minute overtime period passed with neither team scoring the “golden goal”. The Statesmen took four shots in the in the overtime period, and the Bison took one.

Then early into the second overtime period, Harding broke the deadlock. Ryan Wilhelm scored his second goal of the season, and gave the Bison the victory in the 102nd minute. Jackson Savage recorded the assist on the goal, when he sent a cross over to Wilhelm.

The referee was busy during the match, as six players received cards. Jona Amssoms was given a yellow card for Harding in the 28th minute. Senior midfielder Joel Salazar was given the first yellow card of the match for the Statesmen in the 28th minute as well. Junior midfielder Steven Simmons was given a yellow card for Delta State in the 51st minute. Sophomore midfielder Daniel deBlaere was also given a yellow card for the Statesmen in the 65th minute, and freshman forward Reese Shaffer was carded in the 86th minute. Harding's Jacob Stevens was given the Bison's final card in the 80th minute.

The loss puts the Statesmen a game behind Harding for the final spot in the Gulf South Conference Tournament. Up next for the Statesmen is a match with Ouachita Baptist on Sunday. Ouachita lost to Christian Brothers 1-0 earlier on Friday, and Harding takes on Christian Brothers Sunday. The Statesmen and Ouachita get underway at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.