BETHANY, Okla. – Before Harding could settle into rhythm on Saturday afternoon, Southern Nazarene had already put the Bisons in chase mode—and despite flashes of resilience, the uphill climb proved too steep.

Harding scored once in each half and saw two substitutes find the back of the net, but Southern Nazarene's efficiency in front of goal powered the Crimson Storm to a 4–2 victory at Wanda Rhodes Soccer Complex.

Southern Nazarene (5-5-2, 3-3-1 GAC) struck first in the 21st minute when Pedro Arbizu scored unassisted. Just six minutes later, Diego Zamora doubled the lead off an assist from Bekir Lekic.

Harding responded with energy and depth. After a wave of substitutions in the 25th minute, the Bisons broke through in the 34th. Junior Reik Barrack set up Romario Castro, who buried his first goal of the season to cut the deficit to 2–1.

The momentum carried into halftime, but the Crimson Storm capitalized again early in the second half. In the 51st minute, Baptiste Auvray scored off another Lekic assist to restore the two-goal cushion. Then in the 65th, Zamora converted a penalty kick to make it 4–1.

Still, Harding refused to fade. In the 73rd minute, Loveveer Kullar pounced on a loose ball and scored unassisted—his second goal of the season—to bring the Bisons within two.

Harding (2-9-2, 0-6-1 GAC) continued to push forward, outshooting SNU 4–2 in the final 15 minutes, but could not complete the comeback. The Bisons finished with nine shots to the Crimson Storm's 12, while both goalkeepers—Rinner Stewart and Dillon Hart—combined for five saves.

Barrack and Castro sparked the offense off the bench, combining for three of Harding's four shots on goal. Southern Nazarene proved clinical, scoring four times on eight shots on target.

Harding will look to bounce back at home on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. when the Bisons face Northeastern St. at the Stevens Soccer Complex.