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Setting the Scene:
- Top seeded SWOSU Soccer (12-4-2) hosts (3) Harding in the Great American Conference Tournament Championship on Saturday at 11 am out at the Athletic Complex
- The Bulldogs will play the Lady Bisons in the final round of the tournament for the second-consecutive year looking to redeem last year's 5-3 defeat to HU
- In 2016, SWOSU lost both contests to Harding falling to them 2-0 on October 1 and 3-1 on October 20
 
The Coaches:
SWOSU: Mark Persson (80-59-14; 8th season)
- Since taking over the program in 2009, Persson has amassed an 80-59-14 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
 
Harding: Greg Harris (115-133-20; 16th season)
- Coach Harris took over Harding Soccer in 2001, where he coached the women and men's team up until 2010 when he was chosen to continue only coaching the Lady Bisons
- A four-time Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year honoree, Harris garnered his first Great American Conference Coach of the Year honor in 2013 and again in 2015
- Each summer, Harris works several prestigious soccer camps, including Duke, Texas A&M, UT Chattanooga, and Vanderbilt
 
The Opponent
Harding Lady Bisons (11-6-1)
- HU comes into the championship game after beating Ouachita Baptist 1-0 in the semifinal round on Thursday
- The Lady Bisons carry a five match unbeaten streak heading into the match on Saturday, with four wins and a tie since losing to Oklahoma Baptist back on October 14
- Bethany Sutherland leads the HU attack with 13 goals scored on the season and assisting on four others
- Goalkeeper Jessica Woessner has guarded the goal in all 17 matches for Harding in 2016, collecting 80 saves and being a part of eight shutouts while allowing 20 goals
 
Bulldog Facts
- SWOSU looks to win the GAC Tournament for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013
- With Sarah Wilson's game-tying score on Thursday, she becomes the 11th Bulldog to net a goal this season
- Alimata Rabo ranks fourth in NCAA Division II with her 22 goals scored this season
- Sandra Nabweteme, who ranks fifth in Division II, now has 20 goals on the season becoming the Bulldogs second player to score at least 20 times this season, a feat that hasn't been accomplished by a D2 team since West Florida's Hakira Duncan (31) and Jodi-Ann Robinson (20) back in 2010
- The Bulldog offensive attack ranks tied for fourth in Division II averaging 3.67 goals per game
-Ashlyn Collier is SWOSU's third best scorer having scored eight goals this season and dishing out four assists
- Courtney Flores and the Dawg defense has shutout six opponents this season
 
Looking Ahead
- The winner of the GAC Tournament receives an automatic invitation for the NCAA Central Region Tournament