---

Setting the Scene:
- SWOSU Soccer (9-2-1, 6-1 GAC) travels to play East Central on Thursday to face the Tigers for the second time this season, this time on the road
- Last meeting between the teams saw the Bulldogs beating ECU 4-0 back on Sept. 25 in Weatherford
- Currently the Bulldogs sit atop the Great American Conference standings with a conference record of 6-1, a half game up on Ouachita Baptist who is 5-1
 
The Coaches:
SWOSU: Mark Persson (68-55-12; 8th season)
- Since taking over the program in 2009, Persson has amassed a 68-55-12 record, 
becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history
- Persson also led the Bulldogs to back-to-back GAC Championships in 2012 and 2013
- A two time All-Conference Coach of the Year, Persson holds a 37-24-7 record in GAC play
- He has coached one All-American, 12 All-Region players, and numerous All-Conference players during his time in Weatherford
 
ECU: Riley Bailey (79-70-11; 8th season)
- Coach Bailey led the Tigers to Great American Conference regular season and postseason tournament championships in 2011 and to the GAC semifinals in 2012.
- Prior to his head coaching duties at ECU, Bailey spent eight seasons as the Tigers assistant coach, 1998-2000 and 2004-08
- He also coached one All-American player, several all-conference players and numerous academic all-conference award winners
 
The Opponent:
East Central (2-8-1, 2-4 GAC)
- ECU sits in a tie for fifth place with Southern Nazarene in the GAC standings at 2-4
- The Tigers are coming off a 3-2 overtime victory against Harding who at the time was in first place in the conference
- The three goals scored against HU is the most ECU has scored so far in 2016
- Deanna Rudasill leads the Tiger attack with her five goals scored this season
 
Bulldog Facts:
- Freshmen Alimata Rabo and Sandra Nabweteme are tied for the NCAA Division II lead with their 17 goals scored a piece this season
- The Bulldog scoring attack now ranks third in Division II averaging 4.00 points per game
- Rabo and Nabweteme also lead SWOSU in assists with six and seven respectively
- Ashyln Collier collected two assists against Northwestern on Tuesday, now totaling four on the season for her to go along with her three goals scored
- SWOSU has yet to lose in an overtime match this season, tying Central Oklahoma 2-2 on Sept. 11 in two overtime periods and beating Oklahoma Baptist 3-2 in one overtime on Oct. 8   
 
Looking Ahead:
- The Bulldogs return home to face Harding on Thursday, October 20 looking for revenge after losing to the Lady Bisons 2-0 in Searcy earlier this season
- Two days later, SWOSU will host Ouachita Baptist who currently sits tied for first with the Bulldogs in the GAC standings