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Setting the Scene:
- SWOSU Soccer (6-1-1, 3-0 GAC) heads from Arkadelphia to Searcy, Ark. to face Harding in a showdown between first-place teams in the Great American Conference
- The Bulldogs didn't win a game against the Lady Bisons last season going 0-1-1 in the regular season, before falling again to Harding in the GAC Tournament Championship
- Both teams are 3-0 in GAC play, tied for first in the league
 
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
 
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 (6-2, 3-0 GAC)
- Harding finished last season winning both the regular season conference championship and the conference tournament, receiving a bid to the NCAA Tournament   
- The Lady Bisons fell to #18 ranked Augustana in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
- Currently, Harding is (6-2, 3-0) in 2016, tied with SWOSU atop the GAC standings
- Bethany Sutherland leads HU's attack, with seven goals scored so far this season
- Jessica Woessner, HU's primary goalie, has collected 26 saves so far on the season and allowed six goals against her
 
Bulldog Facts
- Sandra Nabweteme became the second Bulldog this season to tie the school record for goals in a season, netting her eleventh and twelfth goals against Ouachita Baptist on Thursday
- With her two goals on Thursday, Nabweteme moved into third place in NCAA Division II for goals scored
- Nabweteme is also tied for second in Division II in assists, dishing out seven so far in the 2016 season
- Alimata Rabo leads all of the NCAA with her 15 goals scored so far this
- The Bulldog attack still leads Division II averaging 5.00 goals scored per game
- The winner of this game between SWOSU and Harding will give a team sole possession of first place in conference standings
 
Looking Ahead
- The Bulldogs will return home for a three-game home stand starting against Southern Nazarene on October 6 at 3 pm
- Two days later, SWOSU will host Oklahoma Baptist at 1 pm
- The final game of the Bulldog home stand will be against Northwestern Oklahoma State on October 11 at 3 pm