CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Southern Nazarene Men' Soccer team (3-4-0, 3-3-0 GAC/MIAA) made their third Great American Conference/ Mid-America Athletics Association Tournament appearance in three years as they took on the top-seeded Rogers State Hillcats (5-0-2, 4-0-2 GAC/MIAA) on Saturday, under the lights, in Claremore.
 
Much like the regular the season contest between the clubs, the matchup was close as RSU was able to escape the grasp of SNU with a 1-0 triumph in the semi-finals of the GAC/MIAA Tournament. The Hillcats barely made their way out of Bethany earlier this season as the two went down to the wire in overtime before Rogers State chipped in a game winning goal.
 
The shot margin tied at 8-8 with Rogers State edging the Crimson Storm by one with shots on target. The contest included a total of 25 fouls and six total corner kicks, SNU holding the corner kick advantage by two with four.
 
The first half was gridlocked at 0-0 as neither managed to net a score going into the recess. Then at the 64^th minute, the Hillcats crossed into the goal to draw the tally to 1-0.
 
SNU never made good on their shots in the second half as Rogers State cemented their lead with a shutout of the Crimson Storm to give them the victory.
 
Nathaniel Mederos led SNU with four shots, one on target, while Angel Lopez finished with two attempts, one on goal. Daniel Valdez and Orlando Castro were the other two Crimson Storm players to register a shot.
 
In goal, Ramiro Jimenez made two saves after facing a total of eight shots, three of those on goal.
 
The Crimson Storm wrap up a stellar season as they cleaned house with GAC/MIAA recognitions. In all, 10 SNU players were recognized for the Spring 2021 Men's Soccer season, the most in the conference. Southern Nazarene can close this season optimistically as they will return their entire starting lineup with a chance at a GAC title in the fall.