ADA – The East Central University soccer team will play its first Great American Conference matches of the 2017 season as they will host Southwestern Oklahoma State and Northwestern Oklahoma State this week. The Tigers (3-3) will first welcome Southwestern, Thursday, Sept. 21 at 4 p.m. and then Northwestern, Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11 a.m.
ECU is currently on a three-game winning streak, dating back to Sept. 9 with a 13-0 win over Randall. The Tigers also defeated Eastern New Mexico (2-1) and Southwestern Christian (2-0) along the way.
ECU has seen two goals from five different players, with three adding an assist for five points this season. The group includes junior
Kendall Cook, freshman
Courtney Tracy and sophomore
Jordyn Gibbs. Junior
Chloe Hull has earned two of the wins in net this season, allowing six goals and stopping 19 shots.
The Bulldogs are 3-2 overall and will face NWOSU for their first conference match of the year, Tuesday, Sept. 19. SWOSU is close on the stat sheet with its opponents, with 2.6 to 2.0 goals per game. The biggest difference seems to be in shots (87-64), with the Bulldogs taking 50 shots in the first half and 37 in the second.
SWOSU has seen goals from seven different players, but Alimata Rabo is the clear offensive threat having scored six goals and adding two assists. The only other player with more than one goal on the year is Memory Phiri (2). Lexie Bates has seen most of the time at goalkeeper, allowing 10 goals and stopping 17 shots.
The Tigers and the Bulldogs have played each other at least once since the 1998 season, with ECU trailing 10-12-2 in the all-time series. The series has been tougher on the Tigers since both teams started the GAC, with a 2-8-1 mark. ECU has fared better at home, with a 5-4-2 record.
The Rangers head into the game against SWOSU with a 0-4-1 record. NWOSU has allowed 21 goals and only tallied three of their own for the season. They also trail their opponents in shots on goal, 63-21.
Karla Lopez has garnered two of the goals for the Rangers this season, while adding an assist. Yazmin Gomez tallied the other goal, with Bailey Jarvis earning an assist. Kylee Loustaunau has seen most of the time in net, stopped 40 saves and allowed 20 goals.
The all-time series with NWOSU started in 2007, with the Tigers leading the series 10-1-3 overall and 8-0-2 when playing as GAC members. When playing at home, ECU has not lost to the Rangers, going 6-0-1.
