SEARCY, Arkansas – A 44th-minute goal by Whitney Thomas proved all the offense needed for Harding as the top-seeded Lady Bisons defeated Ouachita Baptist in the final of the Great American Conference Women’s Soccer Championships. The Lady Bisons’ victory denied the Tigers a third-straight GAC title.
Thomas’ goal followed a Gabie Eddins cross and a Julie Johnson header that redirected the ball into the six-yard box. Thomas knocked it past Taylor Hapgood.
Maysa Willis became the fifth goalkeeper to collect shutouts in both the semifinals and final. Against the Tigers (11-5-3) she made three saves. In 13 games against GAC opponents, she owned a 0.54 goals-against average with seven shutouts and a .875 save percentage.
The Lady Bisons’ win gave the tournament’s top seed nine titles in 15 seasons. Harding (12-6-2) improved to 4-0 all-time in GAC Championship games played in Searcy.
Harding Defender Calle Citty, the GAC’s Defensive Player, garnered the Tournament Most Valuable Player honor. She played all 180 minutes in two Lady Bison shutouts. She scored the game winner against Northwestern Oklahoma State on Friday. Willis, Thomas, midfielder Kloey Fullerton and defender Skylar Henley joined Citty on the All-Tournament Team.
Ava Dunagan, Lennon Porter, and Madi Vana represented the Tigers on the All-Tournament Team. Northwestern Oklahoma State’s Jordan Fawcett and Reese Welch plus Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Raniya Cattina and Chloe Jackson filled out the 12-man team.
The Lady Bisons secured the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championships. They’ll learn their opponent at 5:30 p.m. Monday during the NCAA Selection Show.