WEATHERFORD - SWOSU Soccer is set to kick off the 2025 campaign on Thursday, marking the program's 28th season and the 17th year with head coach Mark Persson leading the Dawgs.
Listen to Coach Persson, Ruth Vasquez, and Bentlee Lindsey preview the season with the GAC's Eric Moyer below.
The team will showcase a fresh look this year, adding 14 freshmen and three incoming transfers to round out a 30-player roster.
SWOSU returns two All-GAC selections from last season. Julie Andersen, a First Team honoree in 2024 after earning Second Team recognition the year prior, anchored the Bulldog defense with starts in all 18 matches. She also scored twice—both on penalty kicks—accounting for all her goals that season. Meanwhile, midfielder Ashlyn Stigall earned Second Team honors after starting 17 matches and leading the Dawgs' midfield presence, including six shots on goal.
The season begins in Colorado, where SWOSU will face Western Colorado on September 4 before taking on Colorado Christian on September 6. Both opponents finished below .500 in 2024.
The following week brings a stretch against four straight MIAA opponents. The Dawgs host Newman and Missouri Southern before traveling to Pittsburg State and Central Oklahoma to close out the non-conference schedule.
Conference play begins September 24 at home against Southern Nazarene, who was picked second in the GAC preseason coaches' poll. That matchup kicks off a 12-game conference slate. SWOSU enters the season as the most decorated program in GAC history, with six regular-season titles—more than any other team in the league.
"We have great leadership in this group," said Head Coach Mark Persson in his GAC Media Day interview. "Not just our seniors and older players, but even the younger players provide great leadership." He continued, "We had a really good spring, building and reestablishing the values we have in our program while focusing on the things that allow you to compete for championships."
The GAC Tournament will be held November 13-15 at the home site of the No. 1 seed, with the top four teams earning a spot in the field.
