| (2) SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE (11-3-4, 7-1-4 GAC) AT (1) OKLAHOMA BAPTIST (15-1-3, 9-0-3 GAC) |
| GAC Championship | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 1 p.m. |
| OBU Soccer Complex | Shawnee, Okla. |
| Live Stats | Watch Live |
SHAWNEE – The top two teams in the Great American Conference are set to battle it out for the GAC Championship on Saturday, Nov. 4 when No. 1 Oklahoma Baptist squares off with No. 2 Southwestern Oklahoma State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the OBU Soccer Complex.
In their first year of postseason eligibility after completing the transition to Division II, Oklahoma Baptist is poised to pull off the double with their second trophy of the year with a win on Saturday. In their way is a SWOSU side that's making their third-straight trip to the GAC Championship.
Oklahoma Baptist (15-1-3, 9-0-3 GAC) haven't lost since Sept. 15, and are riding a program record 15-match unbeaten streak. Southwestern Oklahoma State (11-3-4, 7-1-4 GAC) are enjoying a 10-match unbeaten run of their own.
There's been little to separate the two sides through the first two meetings this year, with the teams tied in a dead heat at 0-0-2. The first meeting ended in a 3-3 tie in Shawnee, before OBU made the return trip to Weatherford for a 0-0 draw in the final match of the regular season.
Oklahoma Baptist is averaging 2.21 goals on a GAC-high 22.26 shots per match.
Ruth King leads the forward line with 13 goals this season, while
Hannah White and
Abigail Parker have combined for 12 goals. King is second in the GAC with seven assists on the year, followed closely by
Emmily Infante in third with five helpers.
The Lady Bison will face a Bulldog defense that's shut out eight opponents, including their last three opponents. Opposing offenses are averaging 12.6 shots and converting those shots into goals at a .103 clip. Lexie Bates has started in all but two matches this year, posting a 1.39 goals-against average and .756 save percentage this season.
Defensively for OBU,
Jennifer Goethe,
Lara Haring-Lovett,
Rachel Beiermann and
Kelsey Bumgarner have featured on a backline that's held their last three opponents to eight shots or less. The defense set a new program record in the GAC semifinal against No. 4 East Central with their ninth clean sheet of the year, and they've shut out three of their last four opponents. GAC Goalkeeper of the Year
Emily Griffith leads the GAC with a .81 GAA, and ranks third in the league with a .778 save percentage on 156 shots faced.
The top-ranked offense for SWOSU runs through Alimata Rabo, Division II's leading goal-scorer with 26 goals this year. She's joined by running mate Sandra Nabweteme who has 11 goals and four assists to her credit.
