Bison Claim GAC Regular Season Title

SHAWNEE - Oklahoma Baptist's match against the Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers was a strong showing before going into the Great American Conference Tournament. The Bison dominated the first half, maintained their lead in the second, and claimed the regular season title with a 2-1 tally. It marked the fourth time and first since the altered spring season of 2021 that OBU won the conference's regular season.
 
Next week, the top-seeded Bison will host rival and fourth-seeded Southwestern Oklahoma State on Nov. 9th in one semifinal match. The other will be between Southern Nazarene and Ouachita. Times will be announced later.
 
Junior Jadynn Daggs' career day was instrumental for OBU's initial success. She claimed the team's first goal in the 37th minute by getting around her defender and scoring near the right post. Merely forty-four seconds later freshman Hali White tallied the second goal. After Daggs crossed a ball left-side, White shot and watched the ball ricochet off the right post into the net.
 
Each player now has two goals this season.
 
Well before those goals, it was Northwestern who nearly struck in the 17th minute. A long ball from defender Sydne Emiston was picked up by leading scorer Isabella McMillan. The Rangers' forward had a one-on-one chance with keeper Mia Pendleton, however, her left-footed shot was denied by OBU's senior.
 
Pendleton made four saves throughout the contest, and despite a goal from Northwestern's Victoria Ruvalcaba with about 15 minutes left, OBU's defense was more than good, allowing just six shots to the visitors. At the end of the match, Pendleton and fellow seniors Kaylee Swaner and Makenzy Morgan were honored for their contributions to the Bison program. 
 
The coming affair with SWOSU will be the third this season and sixth all-time in the GAC Tournament. Last year, the Bulldogs won the tourney final and gained a 3-2 edge over the Bison in postseason play.