ADA – The East Central University soccer team will head to Arkansas, for two Great American Conference matches this weekend.  The Tigers will first battle with Harding, Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. and then Ouachita Baptist, Saturday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m.

ECU went 1-1 last week in league play, earning a 3-0 shutout of Southern Nazarene and then falling to Oklahoma Baptist (1-2) on the road.  The Tigers are now 3-7 overall and 2-2 in the GAC for the year, but it is not from a lack of trying.  ECU has a small 76-89 shots on goal deficit, but has a .555 to .484 shots on goal percentage for the year.

Harding comes into the week with a 6-3-2 overall record and a 3-0-1 mark in league play.  The Bisons will face OBU Tuesday (Oct. 6) at home before hosting the Tigers.  Harding has a 24-8 lead in goals and 105-54 advantage in shots on goal this season.

Bethany Sutherland is the top producer for the Bisons, with nine goals (four match winners) and an assist.  Carley Stevens adds five goals, with two match-winning tallies.  Kaitlyn Miller has played most of the time in net, with eight goals against and 46 saves.

Thursday's meeting will be the 13^th in the all-time series, with ECU holding an 8-4 lead and a 5-4 mark in GAC action.  However, the Tigers have been on the wrong side of the score in the last three matches, including a 0-1 loss in overtime in the last meeting.

Ouachita Baptist is 4-5 overall and 3-1 in the GAC heading into this week's matches.  The other Tigers have a slight 17-16 goals lead, but trail 62-82 in shots on goal to their opponents this season.

Hayley Hatcher is still the offensive leader for OBU, with five goals and an assist.  Bryson Thomas adds three goals and an assist.  Lauren Llanes has seen most of the action in goal so far in 2015, starting in all nine matches and playing all but 82 minutes.  She has allowed 16 goals, stopped 58 shots and earned two shutouts.

ECU is holding onto a small 7-6 advantage in the all-time series, but trails 4-5 when playing in GAC matches.  OBU earned a win in the last meeting that took overtime to decide (1-2).