Box Score  
Box Score
 
Searcy, Arkansas – The road was not kind to the Upper Iowa men’s soccer team to kick off homecoming weekend. In the program’s very first matchup with Harding University, the Peacocks failed to score a goal and for the second straight match the UIU defense gave up three scores in a 3-0 MIAA loss.
 
The defeat drops UIU to an overall record of 3-7 this year and a mark of 1-3 in conference play.
 
Just two days after dropping a 3-1 match to rival Mount Mercy on the road, the Peacocks were scoreless after ninety minutes and had given up three goals again. The Peacocks have found it very difficult scoring this season and overall, have been outshot by opponents 179-95. Friday’s match marked the fourth time this year that UIU was shutout, that’s two more times than the Peacocks had all of last year.
 
While the Peacocks struggled on offense, Harding, which previously totaled ten goals through eight matches, started the match hot.
 
Nine minutes in, Bison forward Adam Borsheim found sophomore forward Shea McGee on the cross and finish to put Harding on the board, 1-0. The UIU defense stiffened and held Harding scoreless for the remaining 35 first half minutes, but UIU still struggled to find the back of the net on offense.
 
Harding added a little insurance with just over ten minutes to go in the match as Ian Park and Jackson Savage both connected on goals. First, Josh Ireland found Park on the cross from left to right and Park finished with the header to put Harding up, 2-0. Then, Savage found the back of the net on an unassisted goal to seal the match, leaving the Bison victorious, 3-0.
 
The Peacocks will now look to rebound as they head west to Tahlequah, Oklahoma to face another solid MIAA opponent. They will battle the Northeastern State University RiverHawks on Sunday, with game time scheduled at 1 p.m. on DeLoache field. Click here to follow the live stats.
 
UIU will be back in action at home on October 7th to face North Iowa Area Community College at 3 p.m. on Pattison field.