SEARCY, Ark. — No. 25 Rogers State men's soccer (9-4-4, 5-3-3 GAC/MIAA) played Harding (0-16-1, 0-10-1 GAC/MIAA) to a 0-0 tie on Thursday. RSU outshot the Bisons 25-2, including 7-1 on goal, but could not find a finish.
The Hillcats created the early looks, with
Mario Lopez Ayuso shooting in the 2nd minute,
Jamie Kennedy missing high in the 3rd minute and
Hayden Parker adding another attempt in the 8th minute. The Bisons put a shot on frame through Maverick McCaig in the 14th minute, but
Tristan Miller made the save, and RSU came back with a corner and a
Gian Filizzola shot saved by Dillon Hart in the 17th minute. The Cats kept the pressure on through the middle of the half, recording five shots and three corner kicks from the 22nd to 30th minutes, including attempts by
Oliver Hemlin,
Brandon O'Rourke and Filizzola.
Sam Ryder hit the top woodwork in the 37th minute, and RSU added later shots from
Mason Largent and
Harkaran Sahota before the half ended scoreless.
RSU put the first pressure of the second half on the Bisons with shots by Filizzola and Hemlin, then built a longer spell from the 62nd to 69th minutes that included two corners, six shots and Dillon Hart's save on
Conor Mills in the 64th minute. The Bisons generated a shot in the 68th minute, but the half stayed scoreless as a physical stretch followed with fouls and three Harding yellow cards between the 70th and 79th minutes, while the Hillcats added a corner and
Jake Mangan had an attempt saved. RSU continued to press late, with Hart saving attempts from Filizzola in the 81st minute, Lopez Ayuso in the 85th minute and Mills in the 87th minute, and neither side scored before the match ended 0-0.
Filizzola led RSU with six shots and put two on goal. Mills added four shots off the bench, including two on frame. Lopez Ayuso finished with four shots and one on goal. Miller played all 90 minutes in goal, made one save and recorded a shutout.
