Tweet ##theGAC  SEARCY, Ark. – Harding survived an upset bid from a game Southern Nazarene squad to earn a return trip to the Great American Conference Men’s Soccer Championships thanks to a 4-3 margin in penalty kicks that followed a 2-2 draw in Friday’s second semifinal from Steven Sports Complex.
 
Jason Diaz delivered the decisive penalty in the fifth round of kicks. Harding (7-6-4) converted four of its five kicks as Christian Ramos, Jonathan Curnutt and Matheus Ribeiro scored as the Bisons’ first three shooters. Andre Cunha missed high in round four.
 
Bisons goalkeeper Michael Wasson gave his team an advantage when he made a save against Alan Armstrong in the second round. In round three, Keegan Radichel missed over the cross bar.
 
In regulation, Southern Nazarene (2-14-2) twice held one-goal leads. Pedro Garcia scored in the 16th minute. The Crimson Storm maintained the 1-0 lead until they surrendered an own goal in the 45th minute. Less than one minute into the second half, Garcia tallied his second goal of the night.
 
Despite finishing with a 37-6 advantage in shots, Harding still trailed late in regulation. Christian Ramos drew the Bisons even after he took a pass from Abraham Lopez and scored from near the top of the 18-yard box.
 
The Crimson Storm’s Dakota Ellicott made 14 saves, tied for the most in a single game by a GAC goalkeeper in league history.
 
Harding will face Ouachita at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The GAC Sports Network will stream the contest. Ouachita won the 2015 GAC Championship; Harding claimed last year’s title.