MITCHELL, S.D. – Down one in the second half, Concordia Women’s Soccer scored two goals within three minutes and held on to complete the comeback over Dakota Wesleyan. The Bulldogs found an equalizer through a Kyana Rios penalty and Sierra McElhannon quickly followed with the eventual game winner.
CUNE has won six in a row in Mitchell and 11 of the last 12 meetings, having outscored the Tigers 32-5 in that stretch. With the second straight win, Concordia is 5-5-1 and 2-3 in GPAC play.
Head Coach Nick Smith said, “We had another good team performance today. We had some pretty big players for us, who were unable to play and needed players to step up. We gave up a goal on a set piece and for the first time this year, we were unphased by it. The response was tremendous. First to earn the penalty and the eventual game winner.”
After falling behind in the 63rd minute of the second frame (1-0), Avery Black drove the ball into the box and was fouled earning a penalty. Rios, a freshman out of Omaha, Neb., buried the equalizing free kick to reset the tie game with 23 minutes left to play. The Bulldogs kept their foot on the gas pedal and the press of the team and Elena Ruiz led to a great opportunity for McElhannon. The Ewa Beach, Hawaii, native smashed the score into the top left corner to take the lead. The goal by the green cleated James Campbell product was the first of her collegiate career.
The Bulldogs were dominant in the first half with a 6-2 shot advantage against the wind but the Tigers came rushing out of the locker rooms with four shots early. The fifth would be the difference to go up one via Hannah Petrucci. Concordia would have to deal with another flurry on counters after its two goals, but goalkeeper Angela Banks kept the Tigers at bay with six total saves. She has reached the feat three times in her career. The defense stepped up in big moments to seal the win with Taylor Slaymaker and Hannah Kile leading the defensive third.
The two teams would end with 12 shots apiece and CUNE would edge Dakota Wesleyan (4-1) in corners but neither club would have a chance in the second half.
With stars Kierstynn Garner, Savannah Andrews and Mirarosa Gyllenswan (inj. 4th minute) out, the Bulldogs would look to a team effort from 16 different players. The freshman, Rios, would lead the team in shots (four) as Hannah Haas (two) and McElhannon (two) would follow.
DWU (3-5, 2-3 GPAC) was led in shots by Petrucci (three), Isabella Veffredo (three) and Mikayla Adams (two) adding an assist. The Tigers will look to respond against Waldorf on Wednesday.
Concordia (5-5-1, 2-3 GPAC) will have a week until it hosts Morningside (2-3-4, 1-2-2 GPAC) on senior day. The Mustangs got the best of the Bulldogs via a 1-0 loss in Seward.