Nov. 21, 2025 Vol. 101, No. 07
NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2A OPINIONS . . . . . . . . . . 3&4A SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1B COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . 2B FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . 3B
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Women’s soccer secures spot in NCAA Division II Tournament
Photo provided by LAUREN SERVICE
The women’s soccer team celebrates a winning game 1-0 against Ouachita Baptist Nov. 16. The win secured the team a spot in the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time since 2016. NATALIA LAGO beat reporter The Harding women’s soccer team won the Great American Conference 2025 Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 16. They played against Ouachita Baptist University and defeated them 1-0. With this, the women’s soccer team has earned the program’s first conference title in years and secured a spot in the NCAA Division II Tournament. It was a tight game, as neither team scored a goal until the end of the first half. The match remained tense, with the weight of the championship title a mere 45 minutes away. The team was able to maintain their score and win the championship title. This achievement has been in the works since 2016, and the team has been fine-tuning their strategies and working together to ensure they earned this title since then. Coach Greg Harris explained the work involved. “This year was just continuing to build on top of what we’d already done and what the teams in previous years have already established,” Harris said. “This team really kind of had a blueprint of what to do and
how to work. We had the right pieces and the people that have seen it and lived in and gone through it, and now wanted to take the next step.” Lauren Service, the women’s soccer graduate assistant coach and a former player, expressed the same excitement and anticipation to get to where the team is now. “I think everything has just kind of been a year of preparation and anticipation to get here,” Service said. “The team feels really good. We’re excited.” In addition to their recent success, the team has also received a series of honorable nominations through the GAC. Harris has been awarded Coach of the Year by the Great American Conference, the latest in a series of such nominations. Further, the team has had four players on the All-GAC First Team: sophomore Kloey Fullerton, juniors Calle Citty and Maysa Willis and senior Whitney Thomas. The team has also had a series of members on the GAC Academic Honor Roll: seniors Whitney Thomas, Reagan Thompson, Lacie Cabana and Kalyn Holeyfield; juniors Maysa Willis, Parker Barrow, Sami Berry and Kalyn Holeyfield; sophomores Campbell Cox,
Gabie Eddins, Eve Garrett, Norah Neely and Skylar Henley. Harris expressed how proud he was of his team and how he instills the motivation to succeed in his team. “We’re blessed to be athletes to glorify God and minister to people in whatever field that they choose,” Harris said. “They did all this and accomplished this and were able to walk across the stage now with the God-given opportunity to minister to others in whatever field they do.” Once the final whistle of the championship game blew, the crowd erupted in cheers and the field was surrounded by fans, friends and families as they all celebrated the win. Sophomore forward Nora Henderson reflected on the moment. “It was great to see, especially the seniors; they’ve been working really hard and they’ve been really wanting this,” Henderson said. “We made it our goal at the beginning of the year, and so it was nice to accomplish that goal. This win just shows how we’re friends on the field and also outside the field. Accomplishing things together means a lot.”
In this issue
Mold in dorms, 2A
Puzzles, 3B
Harding Cares supports community after SNAP cuts CARTER OWENS beat reporter Following the federal government shutdown, thousands of people in Arkansas were affected by the loss of SNAP benefits, but Harding has partnered with the community to help those in need. Harding Cares is the effort created to provide food for those in the community. One of the leaders of the effort, Harding Assistant Provost Dr. Andrea Morris, explained the acute impact of the crisis and the response of the Harding community. “There are 12,000 SNAP recipients in White County,” Morris said. “These are majority working families, the disabled and children. When the benefits stopped for all of them, it became a matter of urgent concern and required a strong, immediate and fullyengaged response. That is what Harding is a part of. Supporting our neighbors is not new for Harding. The relationships in place before this impact will continue to bear fruit after the urgency calms. While the shutdown has ended, we anticipate the impacts to families continuing through December. I am grateful for and humbled by how Harding is showing up for its neighbors.” Morris said that many organizations and community members, with whom Harding Cares is partnering, help administer food to
Photo by BRILEY KEMPER
Junior Holly Haslam drops off goods at a Harding Cares donation bin on campus. The Harding Cares initiative was developed to serve families in the community affected by the loss of SNAP benefits. those in need. In partnership with the city and Executive Director Blake Cole leads of Searcy, the United Way of White County, the charge with Harding Cares to meet the 100 Families, ARcare and Sparrow’s Promise, needs of the community. Harding is one of the donation sites to collect “Based on the very unique and unfortunate identified foods and personal care items. timing of the government shutdown, loss United Way of White County exists to of SNAP benefits to families in need and increase the organized capacity of people existing food insecurity needs that exist on in White County to care for one another, a daily basis, Harding and United Way have
responded in a very good way and been very effective in helping Harding students that have a food or other need, the public with food needs and by supporting local food pantries and other nonprofits that are working to provide food to their clients,” Cole said. Cole described the community’s response to the need. “Searcy and White County are so richly blessed,” Cole said. “No matter the need or circumstance that arises, the people of this community come together to help their neighbors in need. This need has been no different. And finally, even though SNAP benefits have been restored and the government reopened, we plan to continue our food drive until the end of November.” There are many ways students have helped and can continue to help. Junior Emma Gaskill, who has bought meals with others, described the way to serve. “There are tons of ways to serve, no matter how much time or money you have, and it’s available on the SGA Instagram; there’s a link to the LinkTree,” Gaskill said. “I know also that students have all gotten emailed about it from Zack, so there are tons of ways to help regardless of how much time or money you have.”