Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY — It was a bit expected for Southern Nazarene to start a bit flat after the Crimson Storm had not played in three weeks.
 
So much for that theory as SNU unloaded for five unanswered goals including a hat trick from Sherri Collins in a 5-1 route of Mid-America Christian in the semifinals of the NCCAA Central Region Tournament.
 
MACU popped the Crimson Storm (10-7-1) just 34 seconds into the game with a quick goal from the left side, but once the goals started they didn't stop for SNU.
 
Collins scored the first of her three goals in the 22^nd minute when she took a pass from Bekah Stewart and went right down the middle of the field and beat the Lady Evangels' keeper to tie it at 1-1. Collins struck again just 13 seconds later when she played a bounce off the post that came from a Sarah Nazary shot. Stewart then increased the lead to 3-1 in the 26^th minute when she took a pass from Kendra Nixon and laced it home from about 12 yards out to give SNU the 3-1 lead at intermission.
 
Collins completed the hat trick in the 70^th minute when the junior corralled a save off a Kasey Throgmorton shot that bounced her, and buried it to make it 4-1. Stewart put the finishing touches on the day when she lofted a shot from about 15 yards out that snuck over the keeper's head.
 
SNU out shot MACU 21-11 and put 11 shots on goal while the Lady Evangels had seven. Yoli Zamarripa made six saves, including two early stops that could have put SNU down 2-0.
 
Southern Nazarene will now play Oklahoma Wesleyan, Saturday, at noon in the NCCAA Central Region Championship. The winner will advance to the NCCAA National Championship, Nov. 28-Dec. 1., in Kissimmee, Fla.