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Setting the Scene
- SWOSU Soccer has advanced to the Central Region Championship for the first time in school history following a 4-2 shootout victory over Minnesota State in the second round of the tournament after tying the Mavericks 1-1 through two overtime periods 
- The Bulldogs defeated Missouri Western 1-0 in their opening round matchup, following a second half game winner by Alimata Rabo 
- The Dawgs are now faced with their stiffest competition yet in the third round of the NCAA Tournament against nationally No. 1-ranked Central Missouri 
- SWOSU is looking to avenge its earlier season 4-0 loss to UCM which came in the season opener back on August 31st
- The match is set to get underway Friday, November 17th at 2 pm from the South Recreation Complex in Warrensburg, Missouri

The Coaches
SWOSU: Mark Persson (93-62-20; 9th season)
- Since taking over the program in 2009, Persson has amassed a 93-62-20 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
 
UCM: Lewis Theobald (194-27-18; 11th season)
- Theobald entered the 2017 season as the second-winningest active coach in Division II women's soccer with an .834 winning percentage
- He has coached 13 All-Americans, 42 All-Region selections, and 92 All-Conference players
- In 10 seasons as head coach, his UCM squad has finished first in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Conference standings nine times 
 
The Opponent
(1) Central Missouri (22-0, 12-0 MIAA)
- The Jens are coming off their eighth straight MIAA Regular Season crown and their fourth straight MIAA Tournament Title
- Their 22 wins this season sets a new UCM record, topping their previous mark of 21
- Central Missouri is making their eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and their 11th appearance overall
- UCM sports the third best offensive attack in the nation scoring 3.59 goals per game (79 in 22 games) while allowing just .136 goals per game (3 conceded in 22 games)
- Ana Dilkes guards the net for the Jens, having posted 19 shutouts in 22 opportunities
- Offensively, 12 different players have netted at least one goal led by Jada Scott and Abby Rhodes with 16 goals apiece and 17 combined assists between the duo

The Series
- Since first playing SWOSU in 2005, UCM is now 5-0 all-time against the Bulldogs after defeating SWOSU by a scores of 3-0 in 2016 and 4-0 in 2017
- The two have met in the NCAA Tournament once prior, back in 2012 when the Jennies eliminated the Dawgs from the postseason in the second round
- Historically SWOSU has failed to score against UCM, having been shutout in four of the five all-time meetings
- Since 2015, the Bulldogs are now 5-2-1 against MIAA foes with two of those losses at the hands of UCM

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:
(6) SWOSU adv. (2) Minnesota State in PKs 4-2
(1) Central Missouri def. (4) Augustana 3-0
 
Friday, November 17:
(2) Quincy vs (1) Grand Valley State; Warrensburg, Mo., 12 pm (Midwest Region Championship)
(6) SWOSU vs (1) Central Missouri; Warrensburg, Mo., 2 pm  
 
Sunday, November 19:
Winner of QU/GVSU vs Winner of SWOSU/UCM; Warrensburg, Mo., time TBA

SWOSU Notes
- Most recently, SWOSU had three players named to the D2CCA All-Region team highlighted by Alimata Rabo's second consecutive Player of the Year honor while both Sandra Nabweteme and Erica Brunet picked up second team honors 
- 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 3-0 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 13 game unbeaten streak that dates back to September 28th after their latest victory over MSU
- After SWOSU's 1-0 victory over MWSU, the Dawgs are now 2-0 in first round NCAA Tournament matchups
- SWOSU in 2017, sports the tenth best offensive attack in the nation, averaging 2.76 goals per game
- The offense is led by Alimata Rabo – the nation's top division II scorer with 28 scores on the season (now tied with Grand Valley State's Gabriella Mencotti)
- 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), Lauren Williams (1) and Ashlyn Collier (1) have been SWOSU's postseason goal scorers, With Rabo (1) and Collier (1) recording the only two scores during the NCAA Tournament 
- 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 Friday's matchup will take on the winner of the Midwest Regional Championship between (1) Grand Valley State and (2) Quincy on Sunday, November 19 at a time to be announced