BETHANY, Okla.-  Southern Nazarene University gave it their all in the GAC/MIAA Championship against the No. 3 Fort Hays State Tigers, falling just short to the Tigers, 2-1. 

The Tigers came out striking first in the fourth minute when Jeremiah Johnson found the back of the net. Not long after, Fort Hays doubled their lead with 10:02 on the clock, with Tadhg Walsh knocking in an assist from Marcos German. Down 2-0 early, SNU continued to keep fighting.

The Crimson Storm's Andrej Krivokapic made a clutch save with 37:53 on the clock to keep the Tigers from extending their lead before halftime. 

The second half the Storm's Edwin Garcia and Esteban Ramirez both came close to narrowing the gap, but their shots went just wide. The breakthrough came at 71:37 on the clock when Cesar Solis delivered a goal off an assist from Junior Duran to bring SNU within striking distance at 2-1.

The Storm weren't done pressing. Keshon Carter nearly leveled the score with a shot aimed for the bottom corner, but Fort Hays keeper Ben Dixon came up with a save to preserve the FHSU lead. SNU's defense held strong as well, with FHSU Jeremiah Johnson missing with a few minutes left in the game to keep the comeback hopes alive. 

As the clock ran out sealing the deal and leaving no room for a comeback the Tigers took the 2-1 victory over the Crimson Storm.


While the Storm didn't claim the conference title, their season isn't over yet with hopes still alive for a shot at the NCAA Dll Men's Soccer Tournament.