RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Three weeks before the opening of the inaugural Great American Conference men’s soccer season, the league’s head coaches voted new member Oklahoma Baptist as the preseason favorite, the conference office announced on Wednesday.
The Bison join the GAC after 11 years in the Sooner Athletic Conference out of the NAIA. Under head coach Anthony Yousey, he increased the win total by four in 2014. He brings back Pablo Garcia, who earned all-conference at midfielder as a freshman.
Ouachita Baptist posted a 7-7-2 record as an independent in 2014. The Tigers went 2-0-1 against their future GAC foes. First-year head coach Wilson Jones inherits a program that features Tinashe Chigede, a 2014 Daktronics First-Team All-Central Region selection. As a freshman, the only one to make the First Team, he led the Tigers with eight goals and four assists. He netted three game-winning goals.
Harding and Southern Nazarene move back to the GAC after playing as affiliate members in the MIAA. The Bisons placed third in the GAC preseason poll following a 4-9-3 2014 season. Phillip White earned All-MIAA and Daktronics All-Central Region honors as a defender and forward Barry Foster placed on the Honorable Mention All-MIAA team. The Crimson Storm rounded out the poll.
The 2015 season opens during the first week of September. On Thursday, September 3, Ouachita Baptist hosts OklahomaChristian; Harding welcomes in Dallas Baptist and Oklahoma Baptist faces Oklahoma City. Southern Nazarene begins two days later when it takes on Spring Hill.
The regular-season champion will host the 2015 GAC Men’s Soccer Championship with the semifinals set for Friday, November 6 and the title match on Sunday, November 8.
