GAC Championships - Semifinal Round

(2) SWOSU vs (3) Ouachita Baptist

Searcy, Ark. (Stevens Soccer Complex)

TOURNAMENT HOMEPAGE | COVERAGE LINKS

With the regular season now complete, SWOSU Soccer shifts its focus to the 2025 Great American Conference Tournament, which begins Friday, November 14th in Searcy, Arkansas.

The Bulldogs finished the season at 11-4-3 overall and 7-2-3 in GAC play, securing the No. 2 seed. They will face third-seeded Ouachita Baptist in Friday's semifinal matchup. The 11 wins mark SWOSU's highest single-season total since 2021, when the program finished with 13 victories.

SWOSU has missed the GAC Tournament just twice since joining the league in 2011 — in 2014 and again last season (2024). The Bulldogs own a league-best five tournament titles and will be seeking their first since 2022. Overall, SWOSU holds a 13-6-2 record in GAC Tournament play, including an 8-2-1 mark in the semifinals. In championship matches, the Dawgs are 5-3-1. Both ties came in 2016, when SWOSU advanced past Southern Nazarene on penalty kicks in the semifinals before falling to Harding in the final by the same method.

This is the fourth time SWOSU has entered the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed since joining the GAC in 2011. The Bulldogs hold a 3-2 record when playing as the two seed and notably won the tournament in 2017 — defeating Oklahoma Baptist 3-2 in the championship match.

SWOSU and Ouachita Baptist are no strangers in postseason play. The two programs have met four times in the GAC Tournament, with the Bulldogs winning three of those matchups. One of those victories came in the 2012 championship match, where SWOSU defeated the Tigers to claim the program's first-ever GAC title.

The regular-season series between the two teams was evenly played this year, with both meetings ending in draws. The first match finished scoreless in Weatherford, followed by a 1-1 result in Arkadelphia.

The Dawgs have been led by two freshmen this season on the offensive end. Saoirse Hourigan is second in the conference with seven goals to her name, three of which have been game winners for the Bulldogs. Braelee Epp has produced six goals while delivering four assists which is a team high along with Hourigan. Raniya Cattina has scored three goals this season, all three marked as game winners. The SWOSU offensive attack has seen 12 different goal scorers this season. 

Goalkeeper Emma Young has appeared in 15 matches this season, recording four shutouts while totaling 64 saves and allowing just 16 goals — both ranking second in the GAC. Senior Julie Andersen, a 2022 GAC All-Tournament Team selection and three-time GAC Defensive Player of the Week this season, will be making her third career tournament appearance. She was also part of the 2021 squad but did not see action during her freshman postseason.

Senior Ruth Vasquez has scored four times and provided two assists, including one in the season finale.

Should the Bulldogs advance, they would move on to the GAC Championship match where they would face the winner of the semifinal between top-seeded Harding and fourth-seeded Northwestern. The championship is scheduled for Sunday, November 16th at 1:00 p.m.

Both semifinal contests will be broadcast live by Harding, and live stats will also be available at swosuathletics.com/coverage. Sunday's championship match will be featured on the Great American Conference's YouTube page found HERE.

The winner of the GAC Tournament earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
 
The Field

(1) Harding / 10-6-2 overall / 8-3-1 GAC

• SWOSU is 24-12-5 all time against the Bisons
• The teams split the regular season series in 2025

• 1-0 victory in Weatherford on 10/11
• 1-0 loss in Searcy on 10/30

(3) Ouachita Baptist / 7-6-5 overall / 6-2-4 GAC

• SWOSU is 20-10-7 all time against the Tigers
• The two teams tied in each game during the regular season series in 2025

• 0-0 tie in Weatherford 10/9
• 1-1 tie in Arkadelphia 11/1

(4) Northwestern Oklahoma State / 10-5-3 overall / 5-5-2 GAC

• SWOSU is 25-6-8 all time against the Rangers
• SWOSU took the series 1-0-1 during the regular season series in 2025

• 0-0 tie in Alva on 10/15
• 1-0 victory in Weatherford 11/5

 
Tournament Schedule
 
Friday, November 14
Semifinal #1: 11:00 AM – No. 1 Harding vs No. 4 Northwestern Oklahoma State
Semifinal #2: 2:00 PM – No. 2 Southwestern Oklahoma State vs No. 3 Ouachita Baptist
 
Sunday, November 16
Final: 1:00 PM – Winner of Semifinal #1 vs Winner of semifinal #2