The men’s soccer team will play in the new Great American Conference (GAC) for the first time this fall. The conference includes Ouachita Baptist University, Southern Nazarene University and new opponent Oklahoma Baptist University.
“(The new conference) means a fresh start, and, especially in the conference, we have a little bit more of an objective to win and send a message to those in our region that we are competitive,” head coach Odie Guzman said. “I think we have a great team that can compete, and I think we will make a good run for it.”
According to senior team captain Chris Walker, the Bisons have a nice blend of young talent and veteran leadership, which they hope will propel them to the program’s first winning season and conference title.
“(The freshmen) add work ethic,” Walker said. “They add a certain spark because they’re here to prove themselves, and that challenges the older guys because they have to keep their spot. It challenges them to keep improving and to keep teaching younger guys; so it’s good.”
The Bisons were ranked third in the GAC preseason coaches poll. Guzman said he hopes to change the face of the soccer program from a losing team to a winning one.
“We need to prove the critics and coaches wrong,” Guzman said. “I think we were underrated, but it gives us a chip on our shoulder; it gives us something to play for. I think the majority of the locker room agrees we want a little more respect, but we understand that it’s not going to be given to us. We need to work for it, and all these guys are working for it.”
Senior captain Josiah Ireland said that with hard work and the right mindset; all of the team’s goals are attainable.
“If you’re going to go into something, you have to believe it full-heartedly,” Ireland said. “I’m not going to go into any game expecting to lose or expecting a tie or draw. When we strap on our stuff, we’re going to go out there expecting to win because that’s what we have to do.”
The Bisons’ next home game will be Sept. 5 against Oklahoma Christian University. The first GAC game will be Sept. 24 at home against Oklahoma Baptist University.
