BETHANY, Okla. — For the first time since 2016, Southern Nazarene took down Ouachita Baptist that snapped a three-game losing streak on the season for head coach
Trevor Harmon and company.
The 2-0 victory at Wes Harmon Field also snapped a three-game skid with the Tigers (2-3-1, 0-1 GAC) as Ouachita had won eight of the last nine meetings entering Thursday. The Crimson Storm (2-5, 1-0 GAC) were outshot 17-10 for the match, but ultimately found the back of the net twice in the first half.
The defense on both sides was dominant in the opening half, as there were just seven total shots fired in the opening 30 minutes. The Storm had the 20-mph wind at their backs and took advantage with some lasers on the Tigers' goalkeeper. In the 31
st minute,
Jovanny Hernandez's pass connected with
Carson Harding who scored on a beautiful header that gave SNU the 1-0 lead. The goal was Harding's first of the season.
Not 20 seconds later, the Crimson Storm stole the ensuing kickoff and
Angel Lopez fired a bullet that hit the crossbar. Senior
Cutter Smith was right behind Lopez and pooched the ricochet past the goalie for his second goal of the year which gave the Storm a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
Ouachita came out in the second half in attack mode as they fired 12 shots in the period as they tried to get back in the game. With the wind at their backs, they tallied six shots on target but senior goalkeeper
Colton Hadlock saved them all.
Smith finished with two of his three shots landing on goal, while Lopez finished with an assist and two shots on target.
Gustavo Guzman also had a shot on goal for SNU as well.
Hadlock earned his first victory in goal on the season as he recorded seven saves on the night.
The win is the Storm's first victory since September 1
st and puts them with a 2-2 record at Wes Harmon Field on the season. They now set their sights on Harding on Saturday afternoon at home.
