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Southern Nazarene (7-5, 3-2 GAC) at SWOSU Friday, October 18, 2 pm Live Stats

East Central (3-8, 3-1 GAC) at SWOSU Sunday, October 20, 2 pm Live Stats

Weekly Notes (pdf)
 
Setting the Scene
      The No. 17-ranked Southwestern Oklahoma State University soccer team has a one game lead in the Great American Conference standings with six matches to go, including two at home this weekend. The Bulldogs host Southern Nazarene on Friday afternoon before welcoming East Central on Sunday.
      SWOSU defeated Southern Nazarene 2-0 back on September 27 in Bethany in the conference opener for both teams. That match started a stretch with five straight matches that the Bulldogs have either won or tied. SWOSU was slated to play at East Central on September 29 but a miscommunication left the teams without officials for the match and led to it being postponed.

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The Coaches
      Mark Persson is in his fifth season at SWOSU in 2013. He has orchestrated an amazing turnaround and he holds a 47-34-8 record leading the Lady Bulldogs, becoming the program's all-time winningest coach during the 2012 season. Persson has twice been recognized as a conference coach of the year, most recently claiming the GAC's honor in 2012.
      Julie Duncan is in her ?fth season after becoming school's ?fth head coach prior to the 2009 season. Duncan was previously an assistant for SNU's program for six years and coached both boys and girls soccer at Moore HS before taking the helm for SNU. She is 45-48-3 overall at Southern Nazarene.
      Riley Bailey is in his ?fth season as the head coach of the East Central University women's soccer program. Bailey led the Lady Tigers to Great American Conference regular season and postseason tournament championships in 2011 and to the GAC semi?nals in 2012. Bailey has a 30-44-9 record through four-plus seasons leading the Lady Tigers.
 
About the Opponents
      Southern Nazarene is 3-3 in their last six matches since starting conference play, with all three wins coming by shutout. The Crimson Storm is one of the most aggressive teams in the conference, leading the GAC by attempting more than 17 shots per game, but they've struggled to convert as they average less than one goal per game. SNU's goalie, Yoli Zamarripa, ranks second in the conference in shutouts with three. SWOSU's Courtney Flores leads the conference in the category with four.
      East Central did not earn a victory before conference play started but have since defeated Northwestern Oklahoma State, Harding and Ouachita Baptist to move to 3-1 in GAC play. The Tigers victory over Ouachita Baptist allowed SWOSU to take over sole possession of first place in the conference. The Tigers are led by senior midfielder Ashley Bradford, the reigning GAC Offensive Player of the Week.        
 
Standings Check
      East Central's upset of Ouachita Baptist made it so that every team in the Great American Conference except SWOSU has at least one defeated in conference play. At 3-0-1, the Bulldogs sit atop the standings with East Central second at 3-1 and Ouachita Baptist third at 3-1-1. This week's other opponent, Southern Nazarene, is fourth with a 3-2 GAC mark.
 
Last Time Out
      While Sunday's rivalry match between SWOSU soccer and Northwestern Oklahoma State went to the intermission tied at 1-1, the Bulldogs pulled away with a trio of second half goals and the second-most shot attempts in school history to earn the 4-1 victory.
      The Bulldogs attempted 24 shots in the half and 39 for the match, marking just the fifth time in school history that a SWOSU team attempted 30 or more shots. Eleven players attempted at least one shot for SWOSU, led by Charlotte Eastman, who's seven attempts were more than the entire Northwestern Oklahoma State team.
      SWOSU's defensive effort was equally impressive, holding the Rangers to just five shot attempts and one goal. Courtney Flores made three saves and earned her sixth win of the season in goal for the Bulldogs.
 
Six-for-Six
      For the third time in her freshman season, Southwestern Oklahoma State University keeper Courtney Flores has been named the Great American Conference Goalkeeper of the Week.
      Flores picked up her fourth shutout of the season against Dallas Baptist, stopping eight shots by the Patriots and helping the Bulldogs pick up a crucial 1-0 regional victory. DBU attempted 15 shots in the match, with eight on goal, but Samantha Nunez scored a 71st minute goal for the difference.
      On Sunday, SWOSU took over sole possession of first place in the GAC with a 4-1 victory at Northwestern Oklahoma State. Flores made three saves and allowed one goal to pick up the win, improving to 6-1-2 on the year.
      For the week, Flores finished 2-0 with a 0.50 goals against average. She also made 11 saves for a save percentage of .917.
      A native of Plano, Texas, Flores has allowed just six goals to date and she leads the GAC with a 0.64 goals against average. She also has a league-best six shutouts and ranks second with a save percentage of .850.
 
Looking Ahead
     SWOSU will head to Arkansas next weekend for a pair of GAC contests. The Bulldogs face Harding on Friday before a return match with Ouachita Baptist, who tied with the Bulldogs earlier this season, on Sunday in Arkadelphia.