Freshman Harding nets winner for quarterfinal bid | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Freshman Ivy Harding scored the winner for Arkansas in its SEC Tournament first-round match, striking on a direct free kick with seven seconds remaining in the first half against No. 12 Florida in Pensacola, Fla. Arkansas, the No. 5 seed, won 1-0 and advanced to face No. 4 Kentucky in the quarterfinals around 7 p.m. Central Tuesday. Harding and Aniyah Nurse-Whyte set up the attempt; Florida’s wall shifted when Nurse-Whyte moved in, allowing Harding to place the shot under the jumping barrier and beyond goalkeeper Paloma Pena. Arkansas goalkeeper Keegan Smith made key diving saves, and the Razorbacks held on after Florida chased an equalizer. Florida’s season ended after a 6-7-6 campaign, with sub-.500 teams ineligible for the NCAA Tournament.