ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Behind Haley Hatcher's second hat trick of the season, the Ouachita Tigers defeated the Harding Lady Bisons 4-2. Ouachita earned its sixth consecutive victory while handing Harding its first Great American Conference loss.
 
Harding (12-3-2, 9-1-1 GAC) began the match in control, taking the first five shots. After 30 minutes of play, however, Hatcher put the Tigers ahead with her 14^th goal of the season. The goal came after Hatcher stole the ball from a Harding defender and found the back of the net from eight yards out.
 
Just over eight minutes later, Marley Zochert gave Ouachita (10-6, 9-2 GAC) a 2-0 with a goal on a cross from Bryson Thomas. Thomas crossed the ball from the right side of the field and Hatcher put a foot on it, allowing Zochert to score her second goal of the season.
 
The Tigers took a commanding, 3-0 lead in the 44^th minute on Hatcher's second goal of the match. The goal came unassisted, after Hatcher received the ball on a deflection in the box. Ouachita took the 3-0 lead into halftime.
 
Harding took 11 shots in the half, but the lone shot on goal was saved by Ouachita's Lauren Llanes. The Tigers took only six shots in the first half but had four on goal.
 
Ouachita focused on defense in the second half, as the Tigers held the Lady Bisons scoreless through the first 37 minutes, despite 10 shots from Harding. The 11^th shot, however, resulted in Harding's first goal, and the Lady Bisons pulled within two. Ashley Sampson scored the goal for Harding and was assisted by Bethany Sutherland.
 
Less than three minutes later, in the 85^th minute, Harding added another goal to bring the score to 3-2. Sutherland found the back of the net for her 19^th goal of the season on a deflection off a corner kick.
 
Despite the momentum swing, Ouachita was able to seal the match when Hatcher scored her 16^th goal of the season and third in the match on a breakaway that was set up by Zochert in the 89^th minute.
 
Harding finished the match with 24 shots but only five on goal. Ouachita took 13 shots but placed six on goal, including four in the net. Llanes recorded three saves for the Tigers.
 
With the win, the Tigers have tied Harding in conference wins for the season with one match remaining each. Ouachita ended the Lady Bisons seven-game winning streak and 14-game unbeaten streak.
 
Ouachita will end the regular season in Ada, Okla., where the Tigers will take on East Central University. The match is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 29, with the kickoff at 2 p.m.