Box Score SEARCY, Ark.—The Lady Statesmen soccer team hit the road, as they began a road trip through Arkansas with a match against Harding Friday night. The match was closely contested, but two Lady Bison goals in the second half led Harding to the 3-1 victory.

The Lady Bison (4-10-1), tried to pressure the Lady Statesmen defense right out of the gate by taking six shots in the first 20 minutes of the match. The seventh shot by Harding found the back of the net. Mirlinda Lushi scored off a corner kick for her fourth goal of the season. Anne Fitzgerald who took the corner for Harding assisted Lushi.

Harding led for most of the first half, but with under a minute left in the opening period, the Lady Statesmen (3-11), tied the match up. Junior midfielder Hilary Ladner scored her first goal of the season with a chip over the keeper's head. Junior defender Katelynn Davis picked up the assist on the play, as the match went into halftime tied up at 1-1.

The second half was underway when a booking sent a player away for the Lady Statesmen. Sophomore Jessie Reeder was given a red card by the referee in the 60th minute. That meant the Lady Statesmen had to play the rest of the match with only 10 players on the field, and Reeder will have to miss their next match. Harding's Chelsea Brandon was given a yellow card at that time, which was the only other booking of the match.


The match remained a 1-1 affair heading into the 74th minute. It was in that minute that Harding was able to take the lead after the Lady Statesmen suffered an own goal. The miscue gave the Lady Bison the 2-1 lead. The Lady Bison put the game away with a goal in the 89th minute. Adriana Lucar scored when she put the rebound of Lauren Scharf's shot into the goal. The late point secured the 3-1 victory for Harding.

"The girls played hard and battled even after having to play a man down," said head coach Paul Babba. "They battled and played well, it is just difficult to play with a man down."

Freshmen goalkeeper Kelsey Elling allowed three goals, but also made seven saves during the match for the Lady Statesmen. Danielle Nonaka allowed one goal, and made two saves for the Lady Bison in her 90 minutes of action. Harding held a 22-to-10 shot advantage over the Lady Statesmen.

The Lady Statesmen will look to rebound Sunday, as they will play Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Ark. in a non-conference match. The match will get underway at 1:30 p.m. The Lady Statesmen will return home for their final match at Delta Field this season on Wednesday Oct. 26. They will take on Pikeville College at 11 a.m.