PHOTO GALLERY || ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Ouachita set a season-high for goals scored as the Tigers defeated Southern Nazarene, 8-0, on Friday from the Wesley & Debbie Kluck Field in the opening Great American Conference Men's Soccer Championship semifinal.
Seven Tigers (6-10-1) scored a goal and 11 players tallied a point. Ryan Trayner netted goals in both halves and Eric Bentley registered a goal and an assist. Trayner opened the scoring, in the fourth minute of play, with his fourth goal of the season as he connected from 18 yards out on a shot off a deflection from the Southern Nazarene keeper.
Logan Hampton increased the Tiger lead in the eighth minute after he stole the ball from the Crimson Storm defender. Colton Huie converted after a corner kick to make the lead 3-0 in the 27th minute and Dylan Tritton closed out the first-half scoring when he found the back of the net off an assist from Christian Mayho in the 37th minute.
The Tigers struck quickly in the second half as Joey Zerbo scored his first goal of the season after a through pass from David Mouton set Zerbo up with a breakaway opportunity. In the 57th minute, Trayber scored his second goal after a pass from Bentley. Bentley upped the Tiger advantage to 7-0 when he converted a through pass from Justin Ware and beat the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation. In the 64th minute, Ware assisted on the final goal of the game, with a pass to Colten Clark.
Colton Hadlock made seven saves from the Crimson Storm (3-15). Nelson Pacheco and Ben O’Brien combined to made three saves in the shutout.
The Tigers will face the winner of No. 2 Oklahoma Baptist and No. 3 Harding at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the title contest. The GAC Sports Network will stream the broadcast.