RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Oklahoma Baptist University, a perennial contender in the Great American Conference, found itself in a tie for first place as the 2021 Women's Soccer Preseason Poll was released on Tuesday.
It marks the third straight season that OBU has been voted upon by coaches to finish either first or in a tie for first.
The Bison and Ouachita Baptist University each tallied 32 votes while the Tigers received one more first-place vote (3-2) than the Bison. Southwestern Oklahoma State checked in at No. 3 in the poll.
During the spring season, head coach
Mike White's team claimed the GAC regular-season title by winning 2-0 over Ouachita. However, in the conference tourney championship match, the Tigers snuck by the Bison, 1-0, in overtime.
There are numerous contributors returning for the Bison this season which starts Sept. 2 at home against Central Missouri. Oklahoma Baptist's first home conference match comes Sept. 30 versus Harding University.
Among those are All-GAC Second-Team members
Hannah Evans and
Hannah White, each of whom tallied nine points during the spring. Additionally, All-GAC honorees
Katie Fowler and
Kaylee Swaner will be back this fall as well as seniors
Abigail Parker,
Keely Hampton,
Tori Kitchel and
Kelsi Mensen.
2021 GAC Preseason Women's Soccer Poll
t1. Ouachita
t1.
Oklahoma Baptist
3
. Southwestern Oklahoma
4. East Central
5. Harding
6. Southern Nazarene
7. Northwestern Oklahoma
Official GAC Release
