Bison Look to Repeat in 2017

Preseason Prospectus

SHAWNEE – Following their first regular season Great American Conference championship in 2016, the Oklahoma Baptist men's soccer program is looking to repeat as champions entering the 2017 campaign. They were picked to finish first in the GAC preseason coaches' poll released earlier this season.
 
With seven starters, including NCCAA All-Americans Thiago Dos Santos and David Estrada, as well as D2CCA All-Region selections Jesus Andrade and Jonathan Martinez, the Bison are poised to challenge for greater heights in their first season as full members of the NCAA.
 
"It gives us a lot of chemistry," explained OBU head coach Anthony Yousey. "It gives us an understanding of how we want them to play tactically, so I think it's starting to jell together earlier than last year."
 
However, there will be some holes to fill as the Bison graduated four starters from last season's championship squad, including two-time GAC Offensive Player of the Year and D2CCA Honorable Mention All-American Vicente Castillo. In his wake, OBU will look to the continued production of sophomore forward Dos Santos, as well as promising freshman Dominic Gibson.
 
"Those are big shoes to fill. Vicente's been doing a lot for us the past few years, scoring a lot of goals," said Yousey. "Dominic Gibson's come in from Colorado and he's showing a lot of promise in training. He's been finishing well, his movement off the ball's been good. He's very quick.
 
"I would compare him [Gibson] a little bit to Thiago. We have high expectations for him and Thiago to carry the load scoring up front."
 
Trevin Hicks, Luis Romero and Alec Young all return on the attacking front as well, while new additions Dakota Graham and Austin Needham will look to make an early first impression.
 
Defensively, OBU will be tasked with replacing two starting defenders due to the departures of Matthew Giudice and Sam Smith after the pair exhausted eligibility. Fortunately, Josue De Paz will return to the pitch after redshirting last season. Additionally, reigning GAC Freshman of the Year Michael Stewart and Second Team All-GAC honoree Estrada are also expected to reprise their roles, while freshman Stormy Arledge is starting to turn heads in preseason.
 
"It helps a lot getting Josue De Paz back, he was out last year with a medical red shirt," said Yousey. "He's our team captain, so he'll be back at right back.
 
"Stormy Arledge has come in as a freshman and is just a very good player, a very versatile player. He'll come in and bring a lot more athleticism to our back line, as well as more attacking ability."
 
Jacob Tunney also returns on defense in 2017 after sitting out due to injury in 2016, while Jonathan Frank, Braden Dwyer, Caleb Hudgins and Pablo Villa will vie for playing time as well.
 
Three of the four starters in the middle of the park return from last year, including Andrade, Martinez and sophomore Alejandro Castillo, leaving the spot vacated by Pablo Garcia's graduation up for grabs. That spot could potentially be filled by spot starter Martin Romero, but sophomores Irvin Hinojos and Koleson Freeman, as well as freshman Kelvin Chandler, will all push for playing time.
 
All three goalkeepers from last year return, including three-time GAC Goalkeeper of the Week Thomas Ackernecht. The Bison bolstered the position this past spring with the addition of Parker Lawter, though Colin Spencer and Bronson Wise will look to feature on the team sheet this campaign.
 
Despite returning a bevy of talent, the Bison will be tested early since OBU hosts just two matches at the OBU Soccer Complex in the entire month of September. Oklahoma Baptist will head to Edmond, Oklahoma, to open the season on Sept. 7 against Oklahoma Christian before heading to Chickasha, Oklahoma, on Sept. 9 for a tilt with the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. The Bison host Oklahoma City University in their home opener Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. before hitting the road for six of their next seven matches.
 
"We've reaped the benefits of a lot of home games, and now we're turning those games back over and it's really hit us in September," said Yousey. "We're travelling a lot, but hopefully it will give us some strong character. If we can do that, I think it will give us a lot of confidence when we get home in October."
 
Conference play opens for OBU on Sept. 21 when OBU visits Ouachita Baptist ahead of a GAC championship rematch with Harding on Sept. 23 in Searcy, Arkansas. The first meeting with in-state rival Southern Nazarene is slated for Oct. 3.
 
The back half of the season is much friendlier to the Bison, as OBU hosts five of the last six matches of the year before heading into the GAC Tournament. But the goals don't stop there for OBU. The goal is to pull off the double of winning the regular season and conference tournament titles before looking to qualify for the NCAA postseason for the first time.
 
"The biggest thing we need to do is keep our egos in check," explained Yousey. "We've done a lot of training in the spring so we can match up better with the tougher in region opponents. Hopefully it'll be enough to see us push through."