Written by Arianna Hurst
The Harding men’s soccer team went against the Lambuth Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 10, but was defeated in a short-lived overtime 2-1.Kicking off the first half, sophomore midfielder Jackson Savage attempted a shot at the goal from deep right; a foul and offside was then called against Harding.Lambuth made a shot but Harding senior goalie Will Reno saved the blast. Freshman midfielder Cameron Rose and senior forward Gabe Alexander both made high shots half way through the first period and sophomore forward Charles Zacheaus also made two strategic attempts: Both shots were saved by Lambuth goalie, Connor Hurley.Starting off the second period, freshman forward Carlos Barrientos highlighted the scoreboard (1-0) with an unassisted goal 30 yards out from the left side; this was Barrientos first goal of the season.”It was a well-fought game on both sides and they finished their chance,” Savage said. “It was a great game and hopefully we can turn things around.”During the second half, Lambuth made an assisted goal and tied the score (1-1); the teams were then ushered into a 10-minute overtime.”We needed to go back to what we were doing at the beginning of the game that helped put us ahead and gave us opportunities to score and that’s to spread the ball around,” coach Greg Harris said. “We needed to hit some of those backdoor passes that we were looking for. We deviated our style in the second half and the game got real scrappy. Our guys are learning how to fight; they are young.”Early into overtime, Lambuth midfielder Daniel Ericsson made a shot from 15 yards out and cleared the top of the box; Lambuth tipped the score and won (2-1).The solitary victory against Delta State earlier this season ranks Harding (1-8-0); the team is only obliged one additional win from the remaining seven games to qualify for the GSC tournament in Pensacola, Fla., this November.”The goal is still very much here for us; we can go to Pensacola for conference championship just like anyone else in our conference can,” Harris said. “We have not been eliminated from that, so there’s no need to not fight on and press on and play.”The men will compete again Tuesday, Oct. 19, against Southwestern Christian in Oklahoma. The women’s team will take on the University of West Georgia at home Sunday, Oct. 17.
