The Concordia Women’s Soccer program isn’t going anywhere. That’s a message the 2023 Bulldogs delivered loud and clear while following the lead of the likes of Grace Soenksen and Kierstynn Garner. Concordia exceeded outside expectations.
A group of 11 Bulldogs from the Concordia Women’s Soccer program landed on the 2023 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete honor roll. The list includes six repeat award winners.
For their work in the classroom and on the playing field, standouts Savannah Andrews, Hannah Kile, Niah Kirchner and Grace Soenksen have been named Academic All-District honorees by College Sports Communicators.
Ninety-two career games played and four First Team All-GPAC awards to her credit, Grace Soenksen can humbly say that she left a legacy that will stand the test of time. Said Head Coach Nick Smith, "She’s going to go down as a legend."
The All-GPAC haul for Concordia Women's Soccer included five first teamers and GPAC Defensive Player of the Year honors for Grace Soenksen. The five first team selections equals a program record. Eight total Bulldogs were honored.
The two-seeded Bulldogs hosted the three-seeded Warriors on Tuesday night (Nov. 7) for the chance to go to the finals in the GPAC tournament for the first time since 2020.
The two-seeded Dawgs advanced to the GPAC semifinals with a 2-1 win over seventh-seeded Jimmies, besting them twice this season, in their final year of the conference. With all the highest seeds advancing, CUNE shifts their eyes to third-seeded Midland, with a chance to snap their regular season (1-1) tie from their bout in late September.
Earning a No. 2 seed the Bulldogs aligned their path with seventh-seeded Jamestown for their quarterfinal clash. Raining down 18 total shots, Concordia scored two in the first half and held on for their first conference tournament victory (2-1) since winning the postseason tournament in 2020.
After a regular season that achieved more than the outside noise, the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team earned second place. The program will appear in the GPAC tournament for the 15th straight year while preparing to clash against seventh-seeded Jamestown in Bulldog Stadium.
Concordia Women's Soccer entered the night with hopes of winning the GPAC regular season title. The Bulldogs took care of their business with a 4-0 win at Doane while finishing in second place in the 2023 regular season.
The Concordia Women’s Soccer program isn’t going anywhere. That’s a message the 2023 Bulldogs delivered loud and clear while following the lead of the likes of Grace Soenksen and Kierstynn Garner. Concordia exceeded outside expectations.
Ninety-two career games played and four First Team All-GPAC awards to her credit, Grace Soenksen can humbly say that she left a legacy that will stand the test of time. Said Head Coach Nick Smith, "She’s going to go down as a legend."
The transitional phase for Concordia Women's Soccer began back in the spring as Nick Smith took the reins of the program. With the return of Grace Soenksen and a talented sophomore group, the Bulldogs are optimistic about this fall.
In the middle of March, Nick Smith found himself hitting the ground running with spring training sessions. The new Concordia Women's Soccer head coach sees a program with the right foundation for short- and long-term success.
There were ups and downs in 2022, but Concordia Women’s Soccer proved it could hang with anyone in the GPAC. The Bulldogs blended seniors and freshmen and put together the longest unbeaten run to begin a season in program history.
Fresh off a normal spring for the first time since 2019, the Bulldogs are working towards another season of GPAC championship contention. Coach Goines' squad returns a strong nucleus while welcoming an athletic freshman class.
At one point determined to go anywhere but Concordia, Grace Soenksen wound up following in the footsteps of four of her older siblings. She's proven, however, that she is not another Esther. Grace has made her mark in her own way.
The leadership group has begun to be reshaped as the program works on building an identity for the 2022 season. Captains Allee Downing and Grace Soenksen helped lead that process as part of a productive spring for Head Coach Thomas Goines' squad.
Gritty defensive performances and one-goal games were the story in 2021 for the Bulldogs, who competed closely with everyone in the GPAC. Concordia finished 9-7-2 overall while being led by an accomplished senior class.
Just over four months since celebrating a GPAC tournament title, Concordia Women's Soccer is ready to follow it up with a talented 2021 squad. All-GPAC standouts such as Allee Downing, Mikeila Martinez and Grace Soensken return.
Women's Soccer