PHOTO GALLERY || ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – On the strength of two first-half goals, Ouachita claimed the 2015 Great American Conference Men’s Soccer Championship with a 2-0 victory against Oklahoma Baptist on Sunday from Wesley & Debbie Kluck Field.
The champion Tigers (7-11) struck first when Joey Zerbo scored his second goal of the season – both at the GAC Championships – in the 15th minute of play off a deflection from a Gideo Onguti shot.
Late in the first half, the Tigers doubled their advantage. From near midfield, Brandon Hom sent in a free kick to left of the Oklahoma Baptist (6-10-1) net; Blake Beshirs touched a pass inside the box to Marcellus Hill, who beat the Bison goalkeeper with a low shot for his second goal of the season.
Thanks to strong performances from All-Tournament selections Dillon Farrell and Tyler Mouton, the Tiger defense kept the Bison attack at bay. Ouachita goalkeeper Nelson Pacheco made five saves and he finished the championship playing 146 minutes of scoreless action in net. He garnered the Tournament MVP honor. Zerbo and Tyler Mouton rounded out the Tigers’ representation on the All-Tournament team.
Vicente Castillo, who scored both goals in the Bison semifinal win against Harding, headed up Oklahoma Baptist’s slots on the All-Tournament Team. David Estrada and Marcus Oliveira joined Castillo, as did Harding’s Phillip White and Jackson Buchanan plus Southern Nazarene’s Ismael Fernandez and Cutter Smith.