Tweet #theGAC  SEARCY, Ark. – For the second-consecutive year, Ouachita won the Great American Conference Men’s Soccer Championship on enemy soil as a pair of first-half goals withstood a Harding comeback effort en route to a 2-1 victory on Sunday at the Stevens Soccer Complex.
 
In the 30th minute of action, Abraham Lazo received a cross from Ryan Wilson and converted his attempt into the upper left corner for his fifth goal of the season to give the Tigers (6-10-2) the advantage. Ten minutes later Matthew Wallak headed home a Hector Duron pass for his third goal of the season.
 
In the second half, Harding (10-6-1) fired off 14 shots as compared to just four for Ouachita. The Bison drew to 2-1 in the 65^th minute when Jack Savage chipped a pass to Braeden Grundy who poked a shot past Matt Gutierrez for his fifth goal of the season.
 
Over the final 25 minutes, Harding took 10 shots while Ouachita mustered only two. Gutierrez made a key save on GAC Offensive Player of the Year Christian Ramos in the 70^th minute and the defense blocked six shots, including two in the final minute.
 
The Tigers captured their third GAC Championship in the last four years. Gutierrez finished the weekend with 13 saves, a .928 save percentage and a 0.45 goals-against average to earn the Tournament MVP. Lazo, Duran, Blaine Hickman and Chris Garrett also made the All-Tournament Team.
 
Ramos, Jason Diaz, and Justin Kucera represented Harding on the All-Tournament Team. Southern Nazarene’s Cutter Smith and Keegan Radichel and Oklahoma Baptist’s Italo Vichiatto and Dave Brown rounded out the 12-player team.