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Setting the Scene
- Second-seeded SWOSU Soccer takes on the third-seeded Harding Lady Bisons on Thursday afternoon in the first Great American Conference Tournament semifinal matchup
- Following SWOSU and Harding will be the other semifinal contest with the number-one seed and tournament host Oklahoma Baptist taking on the four seed in East Central
- Winners of the pair of games will take a break on Friday before meeting on Saturday at 1 pm for the championship match
- The Bulldogs have split their regular-season series against Harding in 2017, losing at home to HU on September 28th 3-2 and routing them in Searcy 6-1 on October 21st   
 
The Coaches
SWOSU: Mark Persson (90-62-19; 9th season)
- Since taking over the program in 2009, Persson has amassed a 90-62-19 record, becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history
- Persson has now led the Bulldogs to three regular season Great American Conference crowns and two GAC Tournament championships in the last five years
- A two time All-Conference Coach of the Year, Persson holds a 53-28-11 record in GAC play
- He has coached three All-Americans, 16 All-Region players, and numerous All-Conference players during his time in Weatherford
 
Harding: Dr. Greg Harris (133-150-25; 17th 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
(3) Harding (7-8-3, 6-5-1 GAC)
- HU enters the postseason playing their best soccer of the season, having won four of their previous five matches with their only loss in that span coming from SWOSU
- The Lady Bisons have had eight players net at least one goal this year, led by Bethany Sutherland with 14 goals which ranks her second in the league behind Alimata Rabo
- Harding averages a league-best 5.50 corner kicks per contest
 
The Series
- Since the formation of the GAC in 2011, SWOSU holds a 7-6-3 overall record against Harding but have struggled in more recent years against the Lady Bisons
- This season's 6-1 victory over HU snapped a nine-game winless drought that dated back to the beginning of the 2014 season
- SWOSU is 2-1-1 against HU in the GAC Tournament, but the tie came last season in the championship match after Harding advanced in sudden death penalty kicks
 
Final Standings
1. Oklahoma Baptist.. 14-1-3, 9-0-3
2. SWOSU.. 10-3-4, 7-1-4
3. Harding.. 7-8-3, 6-5-1
4. East Central.. 6-7-4, 3-4-4
5. Northwestern.. 5-12-1, 4-8
6. Southern Nazarene.. 5-12, 3-8
7. Ouachita.. 3-13-1, 3-9
 
SWOSU Notes
- The Bulldogs end the regular season leading the conference in scoring, averaging 2.94 goals per game in 17 contests
- On the flipside, SWOSU has surrendered 1.29 goals per game which ranks them third in the GAC behind ECU and OBU
- The attack is led by 2016 GAC Offensive Player of the Year Alimata Rabo, who has netted a NCAA Division II best 24 goals this season
- Sandra Nabweteme has reached double-digit goals this year as well, scoring 11 times to rank her second on the team and fourth in the conference
-  14 different Bulldogs have accounted for at least one goal this season
- Defensively, SWOSU has posted clean sheets against seven opponents with Lexie Bates responsible for four of those and Steffi Silvera responsible for two while the two split time in another
 
Looking Ahead
- With a win and only a win, SWOSU will play on Saturday, November 4 against the winner of Oklahoma Baptist and East Central at 1 pm for the GAC Championship