Box Score (html)
SHAWNEE, Okla. – SWOSU Soccer claimed the 2017 Great American Conference Tournament Championship on Saturday afternoon by defeating regular season champion Oklahoma Baptist 3-2. The Bulldogs handed Oklahoma Baptist its first loss to a conference opponent all year in only their second defeat of the season.
Much like SWOSU has done all season, the Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead and used their momentum to keep improving as the game went along. With a corner kick in the ninth minute,
Erica Brunet floated a beautiful ball that landed right in front of a well-positioned
Alimata Rabo who got a leg on it and booted it past reigning GAC Goalkeeper of the Year Emily Giffith for the opening score of the game.
SWOSU keeper
Lexie Bates guarded the goal with no blemishes through the first 45 minutes, holding the Lady Bison attack scoreless after facing nine shots and coming away with five saves.
In the 62nd minute following halftime, Rabo got involved again this time with an assist to a cutting
Sandra Nabweteme who fired a quick shot away that found net. It was Nabweteme's first goal of the postseason and it extended the Bulldog lead to 2-0, but her afternoon wasn't done quite yet.
Oklahoma Baptist tried shifting momentum with a goal of their own in the 73rd minute. Bates was forced out of her box trying to make a save and the Lady Bison rebounded their own shot and managed to just squeak it by the SWOSU defenders guarding the net. With less than 18 minutes to play, the Dawgs only led by one, 2-1.
Immediately after OBU cut their deficit in half,
Sandra Nabweteme struck again. Rabo got loose and found Nabweteme who slotted the ball with a chip over the Oklahoma Baptist keeper. Just like that, SWOSU led by two again at 3-1 – just 33 seconds after the OBU score.
The Lady Bison made things interesting with a score in the 87th minute, but the margin proved to be too great and the Bulldogs went on to defeat Oklahoma Baptist 3-2.
Bates ended with a career high 11 saves, facing 23 total shots on the afternoon. All-Tournament team members included
Lauren Williams,
Erica Brunet,
Sandra Nabweteme, and
Lauren Tonkovich.
Alimata Rabo, with three GAC Tournament goals, was named the most valuable player. She now has 27 goals on the year, which still leads all of NCAA Division II.
The victory ends SWOSU's two year drought in the postseason tournament's final game, having lost in back-to-back seasons against Harding prior to Saturday. The win marks the Bulldogs third GAC Tournament Championship in the history of the league, dating back to 2011.
SWOSU Soccer (12-3-4) punches its ticket to the NCAA Central Region Tournament with the victory, earning the GAC's automatic bid. The selection show will be held on Monday, November 6th at 5:00 pm where the Bulldogs will learn their seeding and opponent. The NCAA Central Region Tournament is set to begin Friday, November 10th.
