SHAWNEE – Second-seed Ouachita scored a goal in each half and got nine saves from keeper Michelle Snow to defeat top-seed Oklahoma Baptist 2-0 on Sunday in the Great American Conference Tournament final at the OBU Soccer Complex.
With the loss, the green and gold finalized its 2023 season with a 9-9-2 record. For Ouachita, it earned the GAC's automatic berth into next week's NCAA Division II Tournament.
The visiting Tigers had the Bison backline seemingly out of sorts early on and scored not even five minutes into the match. A long pass from tournament MVP Josilyn Kispert was picked up by a streaking Gracen Turner who fired from the middle of the 18 into the back of the net.
OBU responded with the next seven shot attempts including on-target looks from
Hali White,
Annabelle Joski and
Alanna Bloomingdale. However, those trio of shots were saved while the rest sailed either high or wide.
Before half,
Jadynn Daggs got into the offensive mix with two more on goal looks but could not find nylon. After the first 45 minutes of action, the Bison had a whopping 12-1 shots advantage.
More than 30 minutes passed before the hosts nearly found the equalizer. In the 78th minute after a throw-in from deep in Ouachita territory, Daggs rocketed a shot near the left post and watched as a diving Snow kept the score in favor of the Tigers. That attempt proved to be the best look OBU got on Sunday.
A few minutes later, the Tigers iced the match as a pass from Jamie Fowler was picked up by Madi Vana who shot into the right side of the net.
The two goals allowed by the Bison stopped a stretch of eight consecutive matches holding an opponent to one goal or less.
At the conclusion of the contest, senior goalie
Mia Pendleton and freshmen
Brae Baker and
Sophia Ziesemer were named to the All-GAC Tournament team.
