BETHANY, Okla. - In a battle at the GAC/MIAA Championship, Southern Nazarene took on No. 4 Newman and snagged an intense 3-2 win.

The first half SNU's Francisco Chong and Edwin Garcia fired off early shots, letting Newman know the Storm meant business. 

But with 32:41 on the clock, Newman managed to slip in a penalty kick, putting the Crimson Storm down 1-0. The Jets  stayed on the attack, but the Storm headed into halftime fired up and ready to flip the game.

The second half was where it all happened. Right away, Diego Zamora and Lucas Beja took solid shots, only for Newman's keeper, Juan Carlos Cordova, to stop them both.

SNU didn't back down, though. With 58:56 on the clock, Junior Duran found his chance and sent one right from the middle of the field into the net, tying it up 1-1.

SNU kept the heat on. With 71:38 on the clock, Kouri Denham, with an assist from Esteban Ramirez, found the back of the net, pushing the Storm ahead 2-1. Newman wasn't backing off either. Just seven minutes later, they tied it up at 2-2.

But in the clutch moment, Edwin Garcia, with a perfect setup from Diego Zamora, powered in the final goal, putting SNU up 3-2. That was all the Storm needed to clinch their spot in the championship game.

Next Up

The Crimson Storm will take on No. 3 Fort Hays State for the GAC/MIAA Championship game at Wes Harmon Field in Bethany Saturday, November 16 at 1:00 pm.