After completing the conference season with an unbeaten record of 8-0-1, the Oakland University women’s soccer team enters this weekend’s Summit League Tournament as the No. 1 seed.

The Golden Grizzlies (12-5-2 overall) take on Western Illinois Friday at 4 p.m. in Brookings S.D.

“This isn’t the typical 1-4 matchup because they’re a No. 4 seed, but just on goal differential,” head coach Nick O’Shea said of the Leathernecks. “They’re as good as either 2 or 3 seed and had they beaten us by a goal earlier in the season then things could be reversed so we’re taking them very seriously.”

Oakland defeated WIU, 2-1, in the only regular season meeting between the two teams. It was part of a current five-game winning streak by the Grizzlies.

Western Illinois was the team that kept Oakland from participating in the conference tournament a year ago, beating the Grizzlies on the final day of the regular season to eliminate OU from postseason contention and stop its streak of consecutive conference tournament appearances at 10.

Coming into this season, Oakland was picked to finish fourth in the league’s coaches poll — significantly lower from where the team is usually picked.

Yet, the Grizzlies not only ignored that early-season slight, but also went on to far surpass those expectations.

“I don’t know if you ever think you can run the table because there are so many good teams but we knew we’d do well,” O’Shea said. “I’m very pleased with what the players accomplished in the regular season. It’s a credit to them and this is not an easy league so to be able to do that is great. But now, our record is only that, it doesn’t matter much because the tournament is our main focus.”

A key advantage O’Shea thinks his team has going into the tournament is the depth of his team, particularly in the midfield.

“We match up different to every team but one of our strengths is definitely our midfield and the depth that this team has,” O’Shea said. “We’re able to use a lot of players and still maintain a high level of energy and intensity throughout the game, which can really help once you get into tournament play.”

A strong presence in the midfield for OU is senior Dani Haelewyn, who was named Summit League Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.

If Oakland advances, it will face the winner between South Dakota State and North Dakota in the Summit League Championship game Sunday.

UPDATE: Nov. 5  10:21 a.m.

O’Shea was named Summit League Coach of the Year at Thursday night’s championship banquet. This is the third time O’Shea has received this coaching honor.

Additionally, four Grizzlies’ players were named first team all-conference: senior Dani Haelewyn, junior Sarah Lynch and sophomores Nicole DeLuca and Kara Weber.