Bison Set for GAC Heavyweight Bout

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Ouachita Baptist (4-3, 0-1 GAC) at Oklahoma Baptist (3-4-1, 1-0 GAC) Saturday, Sept. 24, 3:00 p.m. Shawnee, Okla. (OBU Soccer Complex) Match Notes

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist and Ouachita Baptist, the contestants in last season's Great American Conference Tournament Final and picked to tie for first place in the GAC Preseason Poll this year, are set to meet for the first time in 2016 when the Tigers visit the OBU Soccer Complex on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 3 p.m.
 
Oklahoma Baptist currently stands atop the GAC standings at 1-0, and 3-4-1 overall, following a 4-2 beating of Harding that halted a three-match winless streak. The Bison boast an offense that ranks among the top 12 in Division II in terms of goals, and 17th in overall offensive production. Vicente Castillo leads the league with six goals to his name. Returning from injury, an already potent offense has already received a boost from Luis Romero, who tallied a goal and assist against Harding in just his second game of the season.
 
The Bison are deploying a goalkeeper by committee approach, and Thomas Ackernecht has featured between the posts for OBU the last two matches. He's currently posted nine saves while holding a .692 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average. Oklahoma Baptist will have to contend with replacing Michael Stewart, who picked up a red card on Thursday night, as they welcome the Tigers to Shawnee.
 
Ouachita Baptist is 4-3 overall, but gave Southern Nazarene their first win of the season as the Tigers fell, 3-1, to the Crimson Storm on Thursday night in their conference opener. The Tigers boast reigning GAC Offensive Player of the Week, Tinashe Chigede, who, aside from Castillo, is the only other player in the league to average over a point per match at 1.29. Nelson Pacheco has started every match in goal for Ouachita, and leads the conference with a .841 save percentage and has a sterling .94 GAA to his credit.
 
Oklahoma Baptist will have a week to rest following the conclusion of Saturday's match. The Bison return to the pitch on Saturday, Oct. 1 to close out the first leg of GAC play with a rivalry match against Southern Nazarene. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.