Alva Review-Courier -

SEARCY, ARK. – The East Central University and Harding soccer teams battled through an offensive shootout, with the Tigers (3-11-2, 3-7-1 GAC) falling 4-6. The 10 combined goals set a new Great American Conference record for goals scored in a league match.

Just hours after being named a 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 honoree, junior Deanna Rudasill had another standout match for the Tigers, with two goals and an assist. It marked the third time this season that the Fayetteville, Ark., native has tallied two goals in one match.

Senior Lexie DeVore added two assists, while sophomore Summer Whalen scored a goal making it her third-straight match with a goal.

The Tigers started the scoring eight minutes into the first half for a 1-0 lead. Senior Lexie DeVore sent a corner kick in and it was bounced out about 20 yards. Freshman Alexis Castillo grabbed the loose ball and sent in a shot on goal that was saved by the Bisons (10-6-1, 7-4-1 GAC) goalkeeper, but Whalen finished the shot for her third goal in three matches.

Harding took only 20 seconds to respond, tying the match at one.

The Bisons kept control of the ball for most of the next five minutes, but ECU capitalized on a scoring chance at 13:21 to take a 2-1 advantage. DeVore sent a shot in on goal that was dropped by the goalie and Rudasill sent it to the back of the net.

The Tigers kept up the scoring in the first half, taking a 3-1 lead, with 23 minutes left in the stanza. This time it was DeVore's corner kick that was headed in by Rudasill from six yards out.

Harding added a goal less than two minutes later to cut the deficit back to 3-2.

ECU finished the scoring in the first half, with 2:55 left in the stanza. A corner kick by sophomore Kendall Smith was finished off by Kristen Yancey, with an assist from Rudasill for the 4-2 advantage.

The Bisons came out strong in the second half and tied the match at four, with goals at 52:45 and 60:31. Harding kept pushing the momentum and gained its first lead of the match (4-5), with a goal at 69:08.

The Bisons added an insurance goal in the 86th minute of play for the 4-6 final.

The Tigers will now travel to face Ouachita Baptist in the final match of the 2016 season, Saturday, Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. in Arkadelphia, Ark.