Lady Bison Picked Second in Preseason Poll

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist is expected to finish second in the Great American Conference, according to the 2018 Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll released Tuesday afternoon by the conference office.
 
The Lady Bison are coming off the most successful campaign in program history, finishing 15-2-3 and claiming the top spot in the GAC regular season with a 9-0-3 conference record. Every starter from the 2017 season is expected to return.
 
OBU earned 31 points in the poll, including two first-place votes. Southwestern Oklahoma State is slated as the preseason favorites with 35 total points and five first-place votes. Coaches ranked the seven teams and were not allowed to list their own teams.
 
Harding is picked third with 27 points, followed by East Central and Ouachita Baptist with 17 points each. Southern Nazarene is sixth with 12 points and Northwestern Oklahoma State is seventh with eight points.
 
Oklahoma Baptist will compete in exhibition matches against Chico State on August 16 and the University of Tulsa on August 23. The Lady Bison officially open the season on August 30 in a neutral site contest against Bemidji State in Minot, North Dakota.