BOX SCORE || WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The Harding Lady Bisons extended their win streak to six straight by defeating Ouachita Baptist, 1-0, in the opening semifinal of the 2013 Great American Conference Women’s Soccer Championships from the SWOSU Athletic Complex.
In winning six straight for the first time since 2006, Harding (8-8-1) earned its first trip the GAC Women’s Soccer Championship title game. The Lady Bisons scored the lone goal of the match in the 13th minute. Melissa Minnich received a pass from First-Team All-GAC forward Jenna Taylor and beat goalkeeper Sarah Broyles for her third goal of the season.
Harding-Ouachita Baptist Photo Gallery
That one goal held up for the duration of the contest, despite Ouachita Baptist (11-6-1), firing off 25 shots, 16 in the second half. The Lady Tigers outshot the Lady Bisons 16-2 over the final 45 minutes. GAC Offensive Player of the Year Haley Hatcher took 10 of those attempts.
In a matchup between two All-GAC goalkeepers, the Lady Bisons’ Kaitlyn Miller made four saves and registered her fifth shutout. Broyles also made four saves in the game.
Harding will play for a conference tournament title for just the second time in program history. The Lady Bisons lost to Christian Brothers 4-3 in overtime in 2004. They will take on Southwestern Oklahoma State at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The match airs online at the GAC Sports Network at
gacsportsnetwork.com.
During the regular season, the Lady Bisons handed the Lady Bulldogs their first conference loss since 2011 when the Lady Bisons won in Searcy, 1-0, on Oct. 25. SWOSU won on its home turf, 4-2, on October 4. The top seed - East Central in 2011 and SWOSU last year - has claimed the previous two GAC Women’s Soccer Championships.