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SWOSU at Harding (3-8-1, 2-4 GAC) Friday, October 25, 7 pm Searcy, Ark. Live Stats | Live Video

SWOSU at Ouachita Baptist (8-3-1, 3-2-1 GAC) Sunday, October 27, 1 pm Arkadelphia, Ark.

Weekly Notes (pdf)
 
Setting the Scene
      Two conference wins last weekend have put the Southwestern Oklahoma State University team in position to claim a second consecutive Great American Conference championship. The Bulldogs have two chances this weekend to strengthen their position atop the conference standings when they head to Arkansas.
      SWOSU will go for the season sweep of Harding on Friday night in Searcy, Ark., after defeating the Lady Bisons 4-2 in Weatherford back on October 4. On Sunday, the Bulldogs will look to avenge the lone non-victory of the conference schedule to date, a 1-1 tie against Ouachita Baptist on October 6.

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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 49-34-8 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.
      Harding head coach Dr. Greg Harris is in his 13th season as the head coach of the women's soccer team in 2013. Harris also coached the men's team from 2001-10. A four-time Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year honoree, Harris has directed the Lady Bisons to six postseason appearances, including the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
      Kevin Wright is the head coach of both the men's and women's soccer teams at Ouachita Baptist.
 
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
      Victories over Southern Nazarene and East Central have SWOSU atop the Great American Conference standings by a game and a half over ECU and two games over Ouachita Baptist. SWOSU's first opponent this weekend, Harding, is fifth in the standings at 2-4 while OBU is third with a conference mark of 3-2-1.
 
Last Time Out
      In a showdown of the top two teams in the Great American Conference standings, the No. 17-ranked SWOSU soccer team put some distance between themselves and the field with a 3-1 victory over East Central on Sunday afternoon in Weatherford.
      Alexis Russell was effective from the start for SWOSU, putting the Bulldogs on top in the ninth minute on a goal from the left wing, her fifth of the season. Russell would assist on the next two goals for SWOSU, finding Miranda Balezentis in front of the goal in the 25th minute before connecting with Natalie Crosslin off a corner kick early in the second half to up the lead to 3-0.
      Courtney Flores was again strong in goal, but she was also aided by the Bulldogs stellar defense. Flores needed just one save in the match to improve to 7-1-2 on the year.
 
Duo Earns GAC Weekly Awards
      After having one player earn Great American Conference weekly awards in each of the season's first six weeks, the Southwestern Oklahoma State University soccer team had a duo – Alexis Russell and Natalie Crosslin – claim GAC honors on Tuesday.
      Russell was named the Offensive Player of the Week after contributing to all three of the Bulldogs goals against East Central on Sunday. She scored the opening goal of the match before assisting on the other two goals as SWOSU defeated the Tigers 3-1 in a meeting of the top two teams in the GAC standings.
      Crosslin earned her second Defender of the Week award of the season by anchoring the SWOSU defense in two crucial GAC victories. The Bulldogs limited their opponents to three goals in two matches with Southern Nazarene and East Central combining for 15 shots, nine on goal. She also scored her third goal of the season against ECU, putting one past the keeper off a corner kick from Russell.
 
Down One Spot
      A 2-0 record over the weekend was not enough to keep the Southwestern Oklahoma State University soccer team from dropping in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 poll. After being ranked No. 17 one week ago, the Bulldogs are now the No. 18-ranked team in NCAA Division II.
      Four teams from the Central Region are currently ranked among the NSCAA Top 25. Minnesota State-Mankato moved up to second in the rankings this week followed by Central Missouri at No. 14. SWOSU at No. 18 and Southwest Minnesota State at No. 25 are the other two ranked schools.