Setting the Scene
- The second-seeded SWOSU Soccer team will take on third-seeded Harding in the semifinals of the Great American Conference Tournament on Thursday in Shawnee
- The Bulldogs will play in the first semifinal match of the day as tournament-host Oklahoma Baptist takes on Ouachita in the second semifinal match
- The winners of each semifinal will meet in the championship to be played on Saturday and with the winning team receiving an automatic berth into the NCAA Divison II Tournament
- SWOSU swept the season series against the Lady Bisons claiming, a 3-0 win in Searcy and grabbing a 4-2 victory in Weatherford
- In the latest NCAA Division II Regional rankings, the Bulldogs sit at the 10th spot in the Central Region
 
SWOSU At the GAC Tournament
- The Bulldogs will make their sixth GAC Tournament appearance in program history, and have won the tournament three times (2012, 2013 and 2017)
- SWOSU has been the tournament host three times as well, hosting in 2012, 2013 and 2016
- Three players have been named Tournament MVP for SWOSU as, Jessica Carbonara (2012), Alexis Russell (2013) and Alimata Rabo (2017) have all claimed the honor
- The Bulldogs have made the championship game five of the six times they have played in the tournament
 
The Opponent
Harding (7-9, 7-5 GAC)
- The Lady Bisons enter the tournament off a 4-0 win over East Central in their final regular season game of the year
- HU has had nine different player score goals for them this season, led by senior Bethany Sutherland who has recorded a team-high 10 goals
- Harding is averaging 19.1 shots per game heading into the postseason
 
The Coaches
SWOSU: Mark Persson (105-67-21; 10th season)
- Since taking over the program in 2009, Persson has become the winningest coach SWOSU Soccer history
- Persson's teams have won three regular season Great American Conference Championships and three GAC Tournament championships
- He has coached three All-Americans, 24 all-region players and numerous all-conference players in his time in Weatherford
- Coach Persson won his 100th game as the Bulldogs head coach against his alma mater Southern Nazarene on October 4, 2018
 
Harding: Dr. Greg Harris (140-160-25; 18th season)
- Harris is in his 18th season at the helm of the Lady Bisons after spending some years as the head coach of both the men's and women's soccer programs
- He is a four-time Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year and was named the Great American Conference Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2015
- Coach Harris has coached 24 all-region players and numerous all-conference players during his time in Searcy
 
SWOSU Notes
- The Bulldogs will head into the GAC tournament on a high note after notching a 6-0 victory over Southern Nazarene on Saturday
- Alimata Rabo lit up the scoreboard with four goals against the Crimson Storm three of which came in the first half of play
- Sandra Nabweteme continues to play a major role for the Bulldogs offensive attack, as she recorded four goals and three assists on her way to being named the GAC Offensive Player of the Week
- Memory Phiri has also played a key part in SWOU's success as she is the third-leading goal scorer on the team, tallying 11 this season
- Anchored by Erica Brunet, SWOSU has been a force defensively allowing 11.7 shots a game to their opponents
- The Bulldogs as a team rank third in Division II in both goals scored with 62 and scoring offense at 3.65
- SWOSU sits at the top of the GAC in goals scored (62), points (160), goals per game (3.65) and assists (36)
- Steffi Silvera has been solid in goal for the Bulldogs recording a goal against average of 1.24 for second in the conference
 
Looking Ahead
- With a win, the Bulldogs would move on to the championship game to be played on Saturday, November 3 against the winner of Oklahoma Baptist and Ouachita at 7:00 pm
- Awaiting the winner of the tournament, is an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will be held at one two host sites