Great American Conference Press Release
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Following a sixth-place finish in 2015, the Oklahoma Baptist women's soccer team has been tabbed to finish sixth in the 2016 Great American Conference Preseason Poll. The poll, voted on among the seven head coaches in the league, was released Thursday afternoon by the conference office.
The Lady Bison claimed 13 points in the 2016 edition of the annual preseason poll. A roster full of youth – OBU's women's team consists of 18 underclassmen heading into the season – the squad does return six starters, including seniors
Emma Beck,
Kenzi Bice,
Kierra Mattingly and
Markella Suka.
Harding, who won both the regular season and tournament championships last season and became just the second GAC program to reach the NCAA postseason, claimed six first-place votes and 36 total points and are favorites to repeat as champions. Southwestern Oklahoma State, runners up in the GAC Tournament in 2015, are picked to finish second after taking one first-place vote and 30 total points. Ouachita rounds out the top three with 26 points.
Southern Nazarene, with 18 points, took fourth place, while East Central, who split the season series with Oklahoma Baptist, narrowly edged out the Lady Bison for fifth place with 16 points. Northwestern Oklahoma State, who was swept by OBU in 2015, rounded out the poll with 8 points.
Oklahoma Baptist opens the 2016 season on Thursday, September 1st at 5 p.m. against Jarvis Christian College at the OBU Soccer Complex. The first of three straight home matches to open the year for the Lady Bison.
2016 GAC Preseason Women's Soccer Poll
# Team, Points (1st Place Votes)
1. Harding, 36 (6)
2. Southwestern Oklahoma State, 30 (1)
3. Ouachita, 26
4. Southern Nazarene, 18
5. East Central, 16
6. Oklahoma Baptist, 13
7. Northwestern Oklahoma State, 8
