Tweet #theGAC  SHAWNEE, Okla. – Ouachita Baptist shut out top seed and host Oklahoma Baptist, 2-0, to win the 2023 Great American Conference Women’s Soccer Championships on Sunday from the OBU Soccer Complex. Midfielder Josilyn Kispert earned Tournament MVP honors.

Five minutes into the game, Gracen Turner slipped a shot past Mia Pendleton off of a long cross from Kispert for an early Tiger (11-2-7) advantage. The Tiger defense made the lead stand up even as the Bison (9-9-2) outshot the Tigers 12-1 in the half. Ouachita Baptist goalkeeper Michele Snow made six saves in the opening 45 minutes.

The Bison continued applying pressure with five more shots, three on goal, in the second half, plus four corner kicks. Five minutes after Snow denied a Jadynn Daggs attempt, the Tigers doubled their lead when Madi Vana scored her second goal in as many GAC Championship matches. Snow finished with nine saves for her 11th shutout of the season.

Vana joined Kispert on the All-Tournament Team as did Sophia Valencia, Allison Reece and Amerie Thomas. Pendleton, Brae Baker and Sophia Ziesemer represented the Bison. Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Claire Torry and Julie Andersen plus Southern Nazarene’ Gianna Bonnett and Quinnlan Edens rounded out the 12-member team.

All three of the Tigers’ tournament titles have come on the top seed’s home field. They improved to 3-2 title matches. Only Southwestern Oklahoma, with five, has won more GAC Championships. They became the fifth champion to record shutouts in both the semifinals and final. They also avenged their only two regular-season losses of the season. The Bison, who have appeared in seven consecutive finals, fall to 2-5 in said matches.

Ouachita Baptist learns its opponent and destination for the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. The selection show stream on NCAA.com.