SWOSU Soccer Faces Washburn in NCAA Division II Tournament

The Southwestern Oklahoma State University soccer team earned its sixth NCAA Division II Tournament appearance, capturing an automatic berth by winning the GAC Tournament Championship, according to swosuathletics.com.

SWOSU entered the postseason after learning its destination and first-round opponent during the NCAA Selection Show in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Bulldogs enter the tournament bracket holding a 9-3-8 overall record and a 6-2-4 conference mark. Standing across from them as the top seed in the Central Region is Washburn, which finished its campaign at 16-1-3 overall and 9-1-2 in the MIAA after capturing both the MIAA regular-season and tournament championships.

While Washburn holds a 2-0 all-time record against SWOSU from non-conference meetings in 2006 and 2007, the Bulldogs entered the matchup riding a strong nine-game unbeaten streak without a single loss suffered since October 3.

SWOSU’s sixth national tournament appearance adds to program history that previously featured qualifications in 2012, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2022. Across those prior trips, the Bulldogs hold a 2-5-1 all-time record in NCAA Tournament competition. Program highlights include tournament victories over Minot State in 2012 and Missouri Western in 2017, alongside a 2017 second-round advancement past Minnesota State secured through a 4-2 penalty-kick shootout. Each of SWOSU's previous tournament runs ended with a loss to Central Missouri.

As the No. 8 seed in the Central Region, the Bulldogs look to translate their late-season momentum onto the national stage against the top-seeded Ichabods. Specific start times for the Central Region bracket games will be announced by tournament organizers in the coming days.