Takara Harden's goal with 45 seconds left in the second half lifted Clarke College to a 2-1 Midwest Collegiate Conference soccer win over Iowa Wesleyan College Wednesday in Mount Pleasant. Harden, a junior defender from Richland, Wash., scored the game-winner on an assist from Clarke freshman Bekah Willich.

With the win, Clarke (7-4-3, 5-5-1 MCC) remained one-half game behind league-leading St. Ambrose.

Iowa Wesleyan (6-8-1, 1-5 MCC) took a 1-0 lead three minutes into the contest on a goal by Jillian Sulcer. Clarke sophomore Kelsey Gleich, of Cottage Grove, Minn., evened thing up five minutes later on an unassisted goal.

Neither team scored until Hardin hit the back of the net.

Kaylee Steen, a freshman from Hermantown, Minn., had four saves in goal for Clarke.

Coach Sean Esterhuizen's squad will step out of MCC play on Wednesday, Oct. 21, when the Crusaders play at Upper Iowa University. The Crusaders will wrap up MCC regular-season play at home on Oct. 24 against Ashford University. Clarke will host Loras College on Oct. 28 in the Crusaders' regular-season finale.

Iowa Wesleyan took the men's contest, 3-2.

-CRUSADERS-