RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Tuesday, the Great American Conference released the results of the 2024 women’s preseason coaches ballot. Ouachita Baptist and Oklahoma Baptist each collected three first-place votes but the Tigers edged out the Bison by one point to finish atop the poll.
Last year, the Tigers captured the program’s third GAC Championship title after they defeated the regular-season champion Bison in the final. They return five All-GAC performers in defender Abbey Moore, forward Hattie Gardner, midfielder Teagan Jaussi, midfielder Allison Reece and defender Amerie Thomas. Moore, a First-Team honoree, helped the Tigers lead the conference in goals-against average and shutouts.
The Bison secured their fourth regular-season title in the last seven years. They bring back a pair of All-GAC First-Team members in forward Alanna Bloomingdale and defender Asley Baker. Bloomingdale led the Bison with five goals and 11 points. Baker and the Oklahoma Baptist defense accumulated seven shutouts. Lex Williamson, an Honorable Mention midfielder, scored two goals as a freshman.
Southern Nazarene claimed third in the poll. In his second year as Crimson Storm head coach, Josh Smith oversaw a five-win and 17-point improvement from 2022. The Crimson Storm qualified for a four-team GAC Championship for the first time since 2016. They return all four of their 2023 All-GAC selections in forward Bella Morgas, midfielder Natalie Montanez, defender Avery Pyle and goalkeeper Gianna Bonnett. Morgas, the GAC Offensive Player of the Year, led the league in goals, 15, and points, 31. Her seven game-winning goals ranked second in all of Division II. Montanez took second to Morgas in goals and points with nine and 19, respectively. Bonnett paced the GAC in saves and ranked second in goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts.
Southwestern Oklahoma State finished fourth. The Bulldogs’ Elvira Gunnarsson collected the GAC’s Newcomer of the Year award after she led the team with five goals and 11 points.
Harding and Northwestern Oklahoma State tied for fifth, followed by East Central. The Lady Bisons feature 2023 All-GAC Second Team honorees Whitney Thomas and Regan Thompson. Thomas paced the team with five goals and 10 points. Thompson added a goal and two assists. The Rangers’ Isabella McMillan scored four goals and goalkeeper Rachel Brown ranked second in the GAC to Bonnett in saves.
ECU features a new head coach in Alyssa Taramona. Abbie Morris returns after sharing the team lead in goals and points.
The regular season begins on Thursday, September 5 with six of the seven schools taking to the pitch. The Bison take on Angelo State in Shawnee; the Crimson Storm open at home with Northwest Missouri State; SWOSU welcomes in Central Oklahoma; the Lady Bisons host Union; the Rangers face Wayne State College and ECU visits Texas Woman’s University. Ouachita opens its season one day later with a home contest against Northeastern State.
The 2024 Women’s Championships takes place on Wednesday, November 13 and Saturday, November 16 at the venue of the regular-season champion.
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