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Setting the Scene:
- SWOSU Soccer (3-2) begins Great American Conference play this week, taking on Northwestern at home and East Central on the road in Ada
- The Bulldogs saw its three-game winning streak snapped on Sunday against Angelo State and will look to rebound when GAC play begins
- Tuesday, Sept. 19 the Dawgs will take on the rival Rangers at 3 pm in Weatherford
- Two days later, SWOSU travels to ECU to take on the Tigers at 4 pm  
 
The Coaches: 
SWOSU: Mark Persson (83-61-15; 9th season)
- Since taking over the program in 2009, Persson has amassed a 83-61-15 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
 
NWOSU: Craig Liddell (3-36-2; 3rd season)
- Liddell coached Enid High School for 15 seasons prior to collegiate coaching
- Coach Liddell was a two-time All-Golden State Athletic Conference selection playing at California Baptist
- He also has his USSF, National "A", and National "Youth" Licenses
 
ECU: Riley Bailey (85-85-13; 9th season)
- Coach Bailey led the Tigers to Great American Conference regular season and postseason tournament championships in 2011 and to the GAC semifinals in 2012.
- Prior to his head coaching duties at ECU, Bailey spent eight seasons as the Tigers assistant coach, 1998-2000 and 2004-08
- He also coached one All-American player, several all-conference players and numerous academic all-conference award winners
 
The Opponents
Northwestern (0-4-1, 0-0 GAC)
- NWOSU is continuing its struggles from a year ago, still winless in five chances to begin the 2017 season
- The Rangers are led offensively by Karla Lopez who was netted two out of NWOSU's three goals this season
- Northwestern has allowed 21 goals through five games
 
East Central (3-3, 0-0 GAC)
- The Tigers sit .500 for the season after starting the year 0-3, outscoring opponents 19-13
- ECU has losses to Oklahoma Christian, Rogers State, and Newman
- ECU has wins against Randall, Eastern New Mexico, and Southwestern Christian
- 13 different players have netted goals for the attack, with five players that have scored two goals and eight players with a single goal

Bulldog Facts
- Alimata Rabo had an outburst of offense last week, scoring four goals against West Texas A&M in a 6-0 victory and added another against Angelo State in a 4-2 loss
- After only netting one goal in SWOSU's first three games, she now leads the GAC with six goals through five games
- Steffi Silvera got her first start guarding the net as a Bulldog against WT, earning the shutout and collecting three saves in the process
- Mikylin York scored her first goal in a Bulldog uniform against WT, putting in a header that was able to sneak into the goal
- Sandra Nabweteme and Memory Phiri also scored single goals on the week

Looking Ahead
- SWOSU will be at home all next week, hosting Harding on Thursday, Sept. 28 and Ouachita Baptist on Saturday, Sept. 30 in more GAC action
- The conference tournament will take place at the regular season champion's home venue on Nov. 2-4