WEATHERFORD – SWOSU Soccer kicks off the 2026 season Thursday afternoon when the Bulldogs welcome Colorado Christian to the SWOSU Soccer Field for a 4 p.m. matchup.
The Bulldogs enter the new season following an 11-5-3 campaign in 2025 that saw them finish 7-2-3 in Great American Conference play and earn the No. 2 seed in the GAC Tournament. SWOSU advanced to the conference tournament semifinals and finished the year with double-digit victories for the ninth time under head coach
Mark Persson.
SWOSU returns a large portion of last year's production in 2026, including six players who earned All-GAC recognition. That group is headlined by reigning GAC Newcomer of the Year and First Team selection
Saoirse Hourigan.
The returning core has SWOSU positioned among the conference favorites entering the fall. The Bulldogs received three first-place votes and were narrowly picked second in the 2026 GAC Preseason Coaches Poll, finishing just one point behind preseason favorite Harding. Ouachita Baptist followed closely behind in third.
Persson enters his 18th season leading the Bulldog program and is the winningest coach in program history. He carries a 166-113-44 career record into 2026 and has guided SWOSU to six regular season conference championships, five GAC Tournament titles and five NCAA Tournament appearances.
SWOSU returns its top two goal scorers from a year ago in Hourigan and
Braelee Epp, who combined for 13 goals, eight assists and 34 points as freshmen.
Hourigan made an immediate impact during her first collegiate season, leading SWOSU with seven goals and 18 points while tying for the team lead with four assists. She ranked among the GAC leaders in goals, points and shots and added three game-winning goals on her way to First Team All-GAC honors and the league's Newcomer of the Year award.
Epp added six goals and four assists for 16 points and earned Second Team All-GAC honors. Together, the duo accounted for 13 of SWOSU's 29 goals last season and gives the Bulldogs two proven scoring threats entering their sophomore campaigns.
Senior
Elise LaForge adds another returning All-GAC presence to the attack after earning Second Team honors last season. She started all 19 matches and finished with one goal and two assists.
The midfield also returns Honorable Mention All-GAC selection
Brekyn Cope, along with
Raniya Cattina,
Laia Costa,
Kayla Abbott,
Madelyn Kitchen and
Brooklyn Marik. Cattina scored three times in 2025, with all three serving as game-winning goals, while Abbott added two goals.
Defensively, senior
Philippine de Sancy returns after earning Honorable Mention All-GAC recognition last season. She appeared in all 19 matches with 18 starts and contributed three assists from the back line.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Emma Young rounds out SWOSU's six returning All-GAC selections after an Honorable Mention freshman campaign. Young started all 19 matches in goal and helped the Bulldogs record six shutouts while finishing the season with 91 saves and an .820 save percentage.
The Bulldogs will have experience to replace defensively following the departures of All-GAC performers
Julie Andersen,
Ruth Vasquez,
Ashlyn Stigall and
Riley Massey. Vasquez also provided an offensive presence last season, finishing third on the team with four goals and 10 points.
SWOSU's non-conference schedule features an even split of three home and three road matches. Following Thursday's opener against Colorado Christian, the Bulldogs travel to face St. Edward's on Sunday before visiting Newman on Sept. 2.
SWOSU returns home to face Emporia State on Sept. 5, travels to Missouri Western on Sept. 9 and closes non-conference play at home against Central Oklahoma on Sept. 12.
GAC play begins Sept. 16 when Oklahoma Baptist visits Weatherford. The conference schedule will feature home & away matchups with all league foes before postseason play begins in November.
Thursday's season opener against Colorado Christian is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the SWOSU Soccer Field.
