Soccer Team Hosts Top-Ranked UCO

August 28, 2006

WEATHERFORD – Southwestern Oklahoma State’s new-look soccer team will quickly learn how it matches up against one of the top teams in the region when the Bulldogs host Central Oklahoma Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Both teams enter the early-season contest undefeated. SWOSU was 3-0 winners in their only game so far this season last week at St. Gregory’s. UCO came away with a 1-0 win also on the road at Dallas Baptist.

SWOSU’s second game -- scheduled for Sunday against Mesa State -- was cancelled because of a lingering thunderstorm in the Weatherford area made it impossible to safely play without the threat of lightning.

Despite the cancellation, the Bulldogs have their sights set on the Bronchos who are the two-time defending Lone Star Conference champions and currently ranked No. 15 in the latest NCAA Division II poll.

“Any conference game we play is a big game for us,” coach Joe Bradley said. “It’s a bit unusual that we are playing an LSC game so early with both teams having played just one match. I know our team will be ready.”

SWOSU’s offensive attack appears to again revolve significantly around junior midfielder Carrie Dumbauld who scored three goals in the opener against St. Gregory’s. Dumbauld has led SWOSU in scoring each of the last two years and is ranked among the LSC early leaders in that category in 2006.

SWOSU is expected to also benefit from the healthy return of starting goalkeeper Keli Bass who missed this season’s opener. Bass missed the entire 2005 season because of injury and has not played since midway through the 2004 season, her freshman year.