By NICK VILLALOBOS
Student Reporter
Just 48 hours removed from a dominant 6-1 victory over conference opponent Ouachita Baptist on Thursday, the Northwestern Rangers took on the Bison of Harding University for the second time this season.
The Rangers looked to find similar success to the OBU game, but a “lack of effort,” as head coach Kasey Mahaffey put it, left them with a 2-1 loss.
The first game between the Bison and Rangers earlier in the season was a heartbreaker as the Bison wwere able to get the go-ahead goal with just 30 seconds left in the game. That earlier loss and the recent dominant victory gave the Rangers an incentive to try and silence the Harding Bison at home.
The Alva Sports Complex had plenty of fans in the stands from both teams on what was a very hot and sunny Saturday afternoon. When play began, the Bison were in full control early on but the Rangers defense was on point with help from senior Kaitlyn O’Toole and sophomore goalie Briana Legaspi.
After a mishandled save by Legaspi, however, Bison Carley Stevens was able to take the shot and give Harding a 1-0 lead early in the ninth minute. The goal may have rattled the Rangers early on but they remained in pursuit for the equalizer. Despite their six shots at the goal though, the Rangers were unable to get one past Bison goalie Kailyn Miller in the first half.
Miller finished with four saves in the first half. Ranger Legaspi finished the half with three saves.
When the second half got underway, the Rangers went on the attack. The attack though left the defense vulnerable to a counterattack by the Bison. After a missed call on the Bison by the head official, Harding was able to get downfield and attack the goal once again. The Rangers hustled to get back on defense but committed a foul in the process.
The foul set up a penalty kick for the Bison. Bison Audrey Adkinson who was able to get it by Ranger Legaspi to put the Bison up by two at the 61-minute mark.
With five minutes remaining in the game, the Rangers went on another attack. At the 87-minute mark, Ranger Jessica Lynch conceded a corner kick to teammate Alyssa Williams, who was then able to get her header shot past Bison Miller to close the lead to one.
The Rangers had several more good chances to tie the game up in the closing minutes, but found their shots either off the mark or in the Bison goalie’s hands.
Mahaffey said during the closing moments, “We are having our chances, now we have to finish them.”
Unfortunately, the Rangers were unable to finish any of their chances and found themselves falling to the Harding Bison 2-1 yet again.
Northwestern finished with 17 total shots, seven on goal, and Legaspi with six total saves.
The Rangers were back in action Tuesday as they played the lady Chaparrals of Lubbock Christian University in preparation for today’s game against Rival Southwestern, the Rangers’ last game of the season.