>> from reports by Jordan Beech OBU Asst. Director of Athletics Communication

SHAWNEE—The Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) men’s and women’s soccer teams collected 12 All-Great American Conference (GAC) honors this season. Five Bison made all-conference, and the OBU women’s team collected three players of the year awards, as well as women’s head coach Mike White being named GAC Coach of the Year.

OBU women’s soccer coach Mike White, left, earned GAC Coach of the Year honors, while, from left Hannah White, Jennifer Goethe and Emily Griffith collected players of the year awards.

For the Lady Bison, Jennifer Goethe earned Defender of the Year; Emily Griffith garnered Goalkeeper of the Year honors; and Hannah White was named Freshman of the Year.

Goethe, a junior from Shawnee, was the heart of a defensive front that posted a GAC-best eight clean sheets while limiting opponents to just 8.7 shots per match during the regular season. This is the second time she’s been named to an All-GAC team, and the first time she’s been awarded First Team and Defender of the Year honors.

Griffith, a redshirt-freshman from Parker, Colo., picked up a program-record eight shutouts in her debut season on Bison Hill. This is the first time in her career that Griffith has been named First Team All-GAC, as well as Goalkeeper of the Year.

Hannah White, a midfielder from Norman, claimed Freshman of the Year honors after leading all freshmen with six goals and four assists for a total of 16 points. White was also named to the All-GAC Second Team.

Mike White earned Coach of the Year honors for the first time after directing the Lady Bison to an unbeaten conference regular season title, becoming just the second team to pull off the feat. His team’s 14 wins this year are one shy of the program mark he set last year, and his nine wins in GAC play are a program record in the GAC.

Ruth King, a sophomore forward and Shawnee native, claimed First Team All-GAC honors for the second time in as many seasons.

Emmily Infante, a junior midfielder hailing from Mexico City, Mexico, was a unanimous First Team All-GAC player. It’s the first time in her career to be named First Team All-GAC.

Lara Haring-Lovett, a sophomore defender from Norman, was OBU’s fifth and final First Team All-GAC selection. This is the second year in a row that Haring-Lovett has made the all-conference list, and the first time to be named to the first team.

Kerregan Edwards, a junior midfielder from McKinney, Texas, started all 18 matches from her defensive position in the middle of the field. She tallied one goal and two assists on her way to Honorable Mention All-GAC status for a second straight year.

Ashleigh Gruns, a senior defender from Tulsa, and Kelsey Bumgarner, a sophomore defender from Mustang, also were honored for their success in the classroom as GAC Distinguished Scholar Student-Athletes.

The Lady Bison ended their season with a 15-2-3 overall record. The 15 wins tie the program’s best mark for wins in a season

he OBU men’s soccer team was led by first team all-conference players, from left, Alejandro Castillo, David Estrada and Thiago Dos Santos.

The OBU men’s soccer team was led by Thiago Dos Santos and David Estrada who were both unanimous first team selections, and were joined by Alejandro Castillo as First Team All-GAC honorees. Luis Romero and Kelvin Chandler took home Second Team All-GAC honors.

Dos Santos, a forward hailing from Natal, Brazil, led the league with 60 shots and finished second with 17 points on six goals and a GAC-best five assists. It’s the second straight season for the sophomore to be named to the All-GAC first team.

Estrada, a senior defender from Cancun, Mexico, becomes one of the first three-time First Team All-GAC defender in conference history in his final season. Castillo, a sophomore midfielder from Peralta, Spain, started all 16 matches for the Bison this season. He scored four goals and one assist, including two goals from the penalty spot. This is the first time in his career to be named First Team All-GAC.

Romero, a junior forward from Zaragoza, Spain, claimed Second Team All-GAC honors after tying for second in the conference with six goals. It’s the second straight year for Romero to be named to the second team.

Chandler, an Edmond native, picked up Second Team All-GAC honors while playing primarily as a defensive midfielder. Jacob Tunney, a red-shirt sophomore from Edmond, was also honored as a Distinguished Scholar Student-Athlete during the ceremony.

OBU men ended their season with a 7-9-1 overall record, tied for the second-most wins under head coach Anthony Yousey