OBU Proves to Be the Better Bison at Harding

SEARCY, Ark. – Saturday at 11:00 a.m., Oklahoma Baptist's Anna Fulton broke an 83-minute standstill tie against Harding as OBU secured a 1-0 Great American Conference victory at the Stevens Soccer Complex. With the result, the green and gold improved to 3-5 and 2-0 in the GAC while the hosts dropped to 1-6-2 and 0-2-1 in conference play.   
 
The first 10 minutes of the match presented an aggressive form of keep-sake. With no shots for either team, the most notable stats of the first 10 were two fouls made by both. It wasn't until 12:34 that a shot was attempted by Harding's senior McKenna Moore, but it proved off-target. Following this, two more attempts were taken by Harding's junior Briley-Anne Brown and senior Melissa Ventura, but neither touched net.  
 
At 18:19 OBU senior Katie Fowler was able to take a shot but was off target. A few more opportunities were taken by Jadynn Daggs and Krissy Fulton, but none were able to hit nylon. By period end, the teams were tied 0-0 with four shots by Oklahoma Baptist and five by Harding. 
 
The green and gold came into the second half with eyes on the goal. The first 20 minutes consisted of seven OBU shot attempts by Daggs, Fowler, freshman Duschka Diaz, sophomore Michaela White and junior Kaylee Swaner, as they sought to break the tie. Midway through the second half, though, the scoreboard still read 0-0.  
 
Thankfully for the green and gold, at 83:33, an assist by senior Makenzy Morgan to senior Anna Fulton came in clutch with a low right goal. Just slipping past Harding's sophomore goalie Bethanie Dixon, this shot was good to break the tie and put Oklahoma Baptist in the lead with less than seven minutes left. 
 
Though a handball was called against Oklahoma Baptist with 45 ticks left, the free-kick shot taken by Harding's sophomore Lauren Service was saved by OBU's sophomore goalie Ireland Jeffrey – securing the Oklahoma Baptist victory. Ireland secured six saves on the day.
 
Next on the schedule for the green and gold is a match in Bethany, Okla. on Sept. 27 against Southern Nazarene at 7:00 p.m.