RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Coming off consecutive Great American Conference women’s soccer regular-season and tournament titles, Southwestern Oklahoma State enters the 2014 season as the preseason favorite following a vote of the league’s head coaches, the conference office announced on Tuesday.
The Lady Bulldogs own a 20-1-1 record against GAC foes since the start of the 2012 season. To lead the effort for a third straight year, they return goalkeeper Courtney Flores, the 2013 GAC Freshman of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year. She posted an 8-3-2 record while leading the GAC with a 0.80 goals-against average and six shutouts. SWOSU also brings back Ashlee Beitinger, the 2012 GAC Freshman of the Year and a two-time All-GAC performer, as well as a pair of 2012 All-GAC selections in Samantha Nunez and Cori Kelly.
Harding edged out Ouachita Baptist for second place in the poll. Both the Lady Bisons and Lady Tigers received a first-place vote. Harding, under 2013 GAC Coach of the Year Dr. Greg Harris, advanced to the final last year’s GAC Tournament. The Lady Bisons return a trio of 2013 Second-Team All-GAC choices – midfielder Audrey Adkison, defender Melita Sutherland and goalkeeper Kaitlyn Miller.
OBU, off an 11-6-1 2013 season, feature the league’s top offensive threat, forward Haley Hatcher. She led the league with 19 goals and 41 points. She tallied 12 more goals and 22 more points than any other player in the conference. She also led the conference in game-winning goals, shots and shots on goal.
East Central placed fourth in the poll, followed by Southern Nazarene and Northwestern Oklahoma State. East Central features the Glutz twins – Margaret and Katie. Margaret, a defender, has earned First-Team All-GAC honors all three previous seasons. After consecutive Second Team appearances, Katie, a midfielder, joined her sister on the First Team last year. The Crimson Storm gained eligibility for the GAC Women’s Soccer Championship following completion of the NCAA membership process. SNU returns a pair of All-GAC selections, midfielder Bekah Stewart and forward Mallary Schaub Pineda.
The 2014 women’s soccer season opens on Thursday, September 4 when Southern Nazarene hosts Rogers State. One day later, SWOSU faces Minnesota State-Mankato, Ouachita Baptist travels south to play Texas A&M International, Northwestern Oklahoma State welcomes Tabor College to Alva, East Central takes on Emporia State in Searcy, Arkansas and Harding plays Missouri Western State.
For the fourth straight year, the regular-season champion will host the GAC Women’s Soccer Championship. The semifinals take place on Friday, November 7 with the title contest set for Sunday, November 9. The GAC Sports Network will air the final.
