SWOSU Soccer claimed the Great American Conference Tournament Championship and, with it, earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament. As revealed during the selection show, the Bulldogs have been placed as the No. 8 seed in the Central Region and will travel to Topeka, Kan., to face top-seeded and No. 4-ranked Washburn in the opening round. 

The Bulldogs enter the NCAA Tournament with a 9-3-8 overall record and a 6-2-4 mark in conference play. After earning the No. 3 seed in the GAC Tournament, SWOSU pulled off consecutive upset victories over Ouachita Baptist and Harding to claim the championship and become the conference's lone representative in the NCAA Tournament. 

Washburn will host the Central Region and currently ranks No. 4 in the NCAA NPI and No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches Division II Women's Soccer Rankings. The Ichabods captured both the MIAA Regular Season and Tournament Championships. It marked their first MIAA Tournament Championship and their third regular-season title in four years. They enter the postseason with a 16-1-3 record, marking their fourth consecutive season with fewer than five losses. Last season, Washburn advanced to the national semifinals before falling to Franklin Pierce, 2-1, to end its season. 

The Ichabods are among the nation's best teams on both sides of the ball. They have scored 49 goals this season, the most in the MIAA and the 13th most nationally, while allowing just six goals, tied for the fourth fewest in Division II. SWOSU, meanwhile, featured the GAC's most potent offense, scoring 34 goals, 10 more than second-place Ouachita Baptist's 24. The Bulldogs also allowed just 15 goals all season and have shut out their last four opponents, including both games of the GAC Tournament. 

Despite injuries to GAC Newcomer of the Year Kinsey Geasland, as well as Madelyn Mitchen, Raniya Cattina and Laia Costa over the last six games, the Bulldogs still have plenty of firepower on both sides of the ball to compete with the nation's best. 

GAC Offensive Player of the Year Braelee Epp will lead the attack. She has scored a conference-high 10 goals while adding four assists for a league-best 24 points. GAC Midfielder of the Year Saoirse Hourigan has consistently pressured opposing back lines, averaging 4.67 shots per game. She has recorded two goals and six assists, the second most in the conference. On the defensive side, GAC Defender of the Year Sarahi Delgadillo has played a major role in limiting opponents to just 15 goals this season. She has been particularly strong over the last few weeks, helping the Bulldogs post four consecutive shutouts. 

All five of SWOSU's previous appearances in the NCAA Division II National Tournament have ended at the hands of Central Missouri. The Jennies eliminated the Bulldogs in 2012, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022. All five of those losses came in Warrensburg, Mo. Central Missouri is the No. 4 seed in this year's Central Region. 

The opening-round matchup is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, in Topeka. With a victory, the Bulldogs would advance to face the winner of the matchup between No. 4 Central Missouri and No. 5 Mary. 

2026 NCAA Central Region Field 

(1) Washburn 

(2) Minnesota State 

(3) Pittsburg State 

(4) Central Missouri 

(5) Mary  

(6) Northern State 

(7) Missouri Western 

(8) SWOSU