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Setting the Scene
- SWOSU Soccer has advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Central Region Tournament for the second time in school history after defeating No. 3 seed Missouri Western 1-0 on Friday (Nov. 10)
- The Bulldogs used a game winner in the 66th minute from the nation's leading goal scorer Alimata Rabo to earn their win in the first round
- Sunday, SWOSU is set to take on No. 2 seed and site host Minnesota State in the next round of the NCAA Tournament with a 1 pm start time scheduled

The Coaches
SWOSU: Mark Persson (93-62-19; 9th season)
- Since taking over the program in 2009, Persson has amassed a 93-62-19 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 three GAC Tournament championships in the last six years, including the latest 2017 tournament crown
- 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
 
Minnesota State: Brian Bahl (90-11-9; 5th season)
- In four seasons with MSU, Bahl has been named a two-time NSCAA Central Region Coach of the Year and 2015 NSIC Coach of the Year
- He has made five appearances in the NCAA Tournament during the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and now 2017 seasons
- Holds a 67-4-4 record against Northern Sun Conference competition
 
The Opponent
(2) Minnesota State (17-2-2, 13-1-1 MIAA)
- The Mavericks were the 2017 NSIC Regular Season and Tournament Champions after losing just one conference match in the regular season and advancing past three teams in the postseason tournament
- MSU's defense ranks fifth in the nation by averaging .369 goals per game, having shutout 16 of its 21 opponents this season
- Minnesota State's offensive attack is balanced with 16 Mavericks with at least one goal, led by Jenny Hoerter (8 goals, 8 assists), Molly Sarafolean (7 goals, 1 assist) and Lauren Kizlik (6 goals, 6 assists)
- Taylor Livermore (12 games, 10 shutouts) and Ryann Dydeen (9 games, 6 shutouts) have split time at goalkeeper this season

The Series
- SWOSU and MSU have met twice in the history of the series in back-to-back years in 2014 and 2015
- The Mavericks were victorious in both meetings by scores of 1-0 and 5-1

NCAA Central Region Tournament
Friday, November 10:
(6) SWOSU def. (3) Missouri Western 1-0
(4) Augustana adv. (5) Bemidji State in PKs 5-3 (Tie 0-0)
 
Sunday, November 12:
(2) Minnesota State vs (6) SWOSU; 1 pm, Mankato, Minn.
(1) Central Missouri vs (4) Augustana; 1 pm, Warrensburg, Mo.

SWOSU Notes
- The Bulldogs are making their second NCAA Tournament appearance and the first since 2012 when they finished 19-0-1 in the regular season and claimed both the GAC regular season and tournament championship
- SWOSU as a four seed, defeated Minot State in the first round of the regional tournament before falling to host Central Missouri to end their season 20-1-1
- Now in 2017, the Dawgs make their NCAA Tournament return as a six seed and are now riding a 12 game unbeaten streak that dates back to September 28^th after their latest victory over MWSU
- After SWOSU's 1-0 victory over the Griffons on Friday, the Dawgs are now 2-0 in first round NCAA Tournament matchups
- The Bulldogs have never made it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament and will look to make history on Sunday against MSU  
- SWOSU in 2017, sports the eighth best offensive attack in the nation, averaging 2.95 goals per game
- The offense is led by Alimata Rabo – the nation's top division II scorer with 28 scores on the season
- Rabo also ranks fifth in division II with 12 assists
- Sandra Nabweteme is SWOSU's second leading scorer, finishing tied for third in the GAC with 13 goals while also ending fifth in assists with four
- Rabo (4), Nabweteme (2), and Lauren Williams (1) have been SWOSU's postseason goal scorers
- Goalie Lexie Bates picked up her sixth solo shutout of the season against Missouri Western, collecting one save against the Griffons

Looking Ahead
- The winner of Sunday's matchup will take on the winner of (1) Central Missouri and (4) Augustana on Friday, November 17