WATCH REPLAY || WEATHERFORD, Okla. - The Harding Lady Bisons claimed their second Great American Conference Women's Soccer Championship against Southwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday from the SWOSU Athletic Complex. The teams played to a 2-2 tie with Harding earning the title, 6-5, in penalty kicks.
Harding's Emma Chilton scored the opening goal, in the 34th minute, on a rebound of her own shot. The Lady Bisons extended the lead to 2-0 when First-Team All-GAC midfielder Bethany Sutherland netted her 14th goal of the season, on an assist from her sister, Melita.
SWOSU'S Sandra Nabweteme, the GAC's Freshman of the Year, provided late-game heroics as she brought the Bulldogs to within a goal on a long-distance shot in the 86th minute. One minute later, following a foul inside the box on Alimata Rabo, she scored on a penalty kick to tie the contest and send it to overtime.
Following two scoreless overtime sessions, the game went to penalty kicks. On the first attempt, Harding goalkeeper Jessica Woessner made a sprawling save on Nabweteme and Bethany Sutherland converted to give Harding the early advantage.
Both sides converted in rounds two and three before Woessner made her second save, this time on Rabo, the conference's Offensive Player of the Year. Melita Sutherland had a chance to win it for Harding, but her kick missed high.
In round five, SWOSU's Lauren Williams, who made the winning kick in Thursday's semifinal against Southern Nazarene, beat Woessner with a low, driving shot to even the score at three. SWOSU's Courtney Flores kept the Bulldogs alive when she saved the effort from Morgan Springborn.
As the penalty kicks moved to sudden death, SWOSU took its first lead when Sarah Wilson converted. Harding used Woessner as a shooter and she beat Flores with a kick to Flores' right. In round seven, SWOSU's Olivia Butler and Harding's Chilton both scored.
In round eight, Woessner made her third save of the as she dove to her right to stop Kirstyn Eustace's shot. Harding's Sierra Phillips delivered the winning strike on a low attempt past the outstretched arms of Flores.
Woessner earned Tournament MVP honors. The full All-Tournament Team included Harding’s Bethany and Melita Sutherland Hannah Wilhelm and Stevens; SWOSU’s Flores, Butler and Wilson; Southern Nazarene’s Hannah Robinson and Taylor Jester along with Ouachita’s Miranda Hudleston & Tessa Woodcock.
Harding earned its second trip to the NCAA Tournament. It will learn its destination and opponent during Monday's selection show, set for 5 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.