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Setting the Scene:
- SWOSU Soccer (2-1) plays their final non-conference matches of the season this week, first at home on Thursday against West Texas A&M and then on the road on Sunday at Angelo State 
- Last season, the match in Weatherford against WT was cancelled due to weather and was never made up
- Start times are scheduled for 3 pm out at the Athletic Complex on Thursday, and 12 pm on Sunday in San Angelo, Texas
 
The Coaches: 
SWOSU: Mark Persson (82-60-15; 9th season)
- Since taking over the program in 2009, Persson has amassed a 80-59-15 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 46-27-7 record in GAC play
- He has coached three All-Americans, 16 All-Region players, and numerous All-Conference players during his time in Weatherford
 
WT: Chad Webb (66-59-13; 8th season)
- Coach Webb is the second head coach in Lady Buffs Soccer history
- He was an assistant for the women's team for 13 years prior to his head coaching position
- During his playing career with the Buffaloes, from 1992-1995, Webb scored 10 goals and provided 20 assists while also serving as the Buffs' captain
 
ASU: Travis McCorkle (104-61-16; 10th season)
- The winningest coach in Angelo State history, surpassing the 100-win mark in 2016
- McCorkle has led the Rambelles to two Lone Star Conference Championships, seven straight trips to the postseason and three NCAA postseason appearances along with eight 10-plus win seasons
- Spent five seasons at Eastern New Mexico (2003-07) prior to tenure at Angelo State 


The Opponents
West Texas A&M (2-1-1)
- Has wins over Colorado Christian (3-0) and Fort Lewis (2-0), one loss to Colorado-Colorado Springs, and one tie to New Mexico Highlands (1-1)
- Picked second in the Lonestar Conference annual preseason poll, Coming off a co-Lone Star Conference regular season title in 2016 after finishing 11-6 overall and 9-3 in league play
- WT junior and two-time All-LSC defender Khadisha Debesette earned LSC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year accolades for the 2017 season 
 
Angelo State (2-1)
- Has wins over Adams State (1-0) and New Mexico Highlands (3-2) and one loss to Florida Tech (1-0)
- Picked fourth in the Lonestar Conference in the annual preseason poll, a year after finishing fourth in the final conference standings
- Returns 19 players from 2016 and ASU brings in 10 new players to complete their team
 
Bulldog Facts
- The Bulldogs are coming off of a 2-1 victory over Central Oklahoma last Thursday, a match where SWOSU trailed UCO 1-0 at halftime and scored two second-half goals to earn the win
- Sarah Wilson and Alimata Rabo netted goals against the Bronchos, becoming the fourth and fifth players this season to score a goal for SWOSU
- Rabo was the hero, getting a ball past the UCO goalkeeper in the 88th minute for the game winner
- Lexi Bates collected three saves guarding the net for the Dawgs, while the defense allowed nine shots for the match
- The Dawg attack proves to be aggressive, having already outshot three opponents by a combined +21 margin
- SWOSU has never beaten WT in 17 chances as the Lady Buffs control the all-time series 16-0-1  
 
Looking Ahead
- Tuesday, Sept. 19 SWOSU welcomes rival Northwestern for the first Great American Conference contest of the season
- Two days later, the Dawgs hit the road to Ada, Okla. to take on East Central in the first road GAC match