WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU Soccer claimed the GAC Tournament Championship today with a 2-0 win over Oklahoma Baptist. The conference championship moves the Dawgs into the NCAA National Tournament.
 
This was the third meeting between the two schools this season. SWOSU outscored OBU 10-0 in these three contests. The win avenges the 2021 GAC Tournament Championship defeat that SWOSU took at the hands of Oklahoma Baptist last year.
 
The Bulldogs defense was once again the most valuable piece of the team. OBU's attack found its way deep into the SWOSU side of the field many times during the game, but the backline stayed solid and clogged the box enough to keep the Bison out of the goal.
 
Sola Tsuruta scored in the 9' off of a penalty kick granted by a foul in the goalie's box on an OBU defender. She put the ball straight past the goalie in the top right corner of the net. This would be the game winning goal.
 
Micaella Swain added an 80' insurance goal off of her right foot. The Bulldogs found running room in the middle of the field and a numbers advantage when Alimata Rabo found an open Kelsey Smith, who found an open Swain for the goal. Rabo and Smith were on the record for the assists.
 
Sola Tsuruta won the GAC Tournament Most Valuable Player award as well as making the All-GAC Tournament Team. Ashley Hughes, Alimata Rabo, Micaella Swain, and Laura Jorgensen joined her on the All-GAC Tournament Team for the Dawgs.
 
This is SWOSU's fifth GAC Tournament Championship in school history (2012, 2013, 2017, 2019). The win propels SWOSU to the NCAA Tournament with an automatic bid. Their match site and first opponent in the tournament will be revealed on Monday, November 7. For future updates, be sure to follow SWOSU Athletics social media pages and keep up with swosuathletics.com.