All-American soccer sisters

They call them sister-sister goals. That’s when either Melita Sutherland or her younger sister, Bethany, passes the ball to the other who in turn scores a goal. For the pair, it is one of the best parts of playing soccer for the Lady Bisons.

Last season, during the team’s run to the Great American Conference championship, the Sutherlands, separated in age by only 18 months, pulled off the sister-sister trick three times, twice with Bethany scoring on passes from Melita and once with Melita scoring on a feed from Bethany. Harding won all three games.

“They both have a next-level soccer sense. I don’t think they are always looking to connect with each other, but it often turns out that way because they seem to always be on the same page,” head coach Greg Harris says.

“We know how each other plays, so we really play well together,” Melita says.

Scoring goals came naturally for Bethany, a midfielder, during her freshman season. Her 23 goals in 21 games set a new Lady Bison single-season record. Nine of her goals were game winners — also a school record. Bethany led the GAC and ranked in the top five in Division II in both statistical categories.

During her junior season at Harding, Melita, a defender, scored twice and had four assists.

The Orange, California, natives’ first season together at Harding was historic. The Lady Bisons went 15-4-2 overall, recording a perfect 10-0-0 record at home. The team earned the GAC regular season and tournament championships and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.

But Lady Bison soccer, which began in 1998, had never had a player named All-American.

That changed Dec. 9, 2015, when both Melita and Bethany received All-America honors from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association. Bethany was a first-team honoree, and Melita was listed on the third team.

“I was really shocked when I heard about the All-America award,” Melita says. “I depend so much on the other girls on the team. They saved me so many times. It’s weird to get the recognition. I’d rather it just be for the team.”

Putting it simply, Bethany says, “I was just doing my job!”

Clark and Dawn Sutherland, parents of Melita and Bethany, both attended Harding as did the couple’s two older sons. But neither Melita nor Bethany were sure that Harding was where they would play collegiate soccer.

“I wanted to go to Pepperdine [University] when I was growing up,” says Melita. “But it was way too expensive.” Nearby Biola University was also an option. It was another family connection that sold her on Harding.

The Sutherlands’ cousin Jenna Taylor played soccer for the University from 2010-13 and was working a summer camp at Harding when she invited Melita to attend.

“When I came to the camp, I knew this was where God wanted me to be,” Melita says. “It was the best I had ever played.”

Bethany joining her sister two years later was not a foregone conclusion.

“I had my heart set against Harding,” Bethany says. “I was not going to come here.”

But Harding’s summer camp changed her mind, too. She also says it was the best she had ever played. After that experience, she says her thoughts became, “If Harding wants me, I’ll go.”

So Bethany left Southern California and joined her sister just in time to rewrite the school’s soccer record book.

In 2016, the Sutherlands have one final season together, and they have one thing on their minds.

“We are very competitive,” they say. “We want to win.”

Call it their sister-sister goal.