SEWARD, Neb. – Head Coach Nick Smith has the Bulldogs churning like a machine and enters the GPAC tournament on a eight game win streak after starting winless in the first three conference games. The program will appear in the playoffs for the 16th year in a row while preparing to clash against seventh-seeded College of Saint Mary in Bulldog Stadium. Sitting at the No. 2 seed, Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer finished in second for consecutive years totaling a 12-3-3 overall record and 8-1-3 in the conference.
Next Match
GPAC Quarterfinals: Saturday, Nov. 2 vs. College of Saint Mary (6-8-4, 5-4-2 GPAC), 7 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12; only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s are admitted free of charge.
By the numbers
· Concordia finds confidence in the past postseason success the program has enjoyed in recent years. Over the previous 10 GPAC tournaments, the Bulldogs have reached at least the semifinals eight times and have played in the championship game six times (five straight years from 2014 through 2018). The program celebrated GPAC postseason championships in 2014, 2016 and 2020. Midfielder Hannah Haas and goalkeeper Bradi Ore were a part of the 2020 championship squad. Coach Smith went 1-1 in his first tournament run but will look to go further in his second showing.
· Only seven minutes into the match, Concordia had already put two scores into the back of the net versus Midland. Kierstynn Garner scored four goals (2’, 7’, 35’, 66’) and had a first half hat trick in her dominant showing. Mirarosa Gyllenswan would collect a goal and her fourth assist on the season, while Niah Kirchner scorched one past the keeper for her first of the year. The Bulldogs only outshot the Warriors by two (12-10) but doubled the visitors in shots on frame (10-5). As the offense didn’t miss the target in their first seven shots, the Defense tried to outplay their side earning yet another clean sheet. Goalkeepers Angela Banks and Aliya Vidro combined for five saves and rendered the fourth straight opponent scoreless.
· In the first meeting on Oct. 23, Concordia came out of the gates with tenacity against the Flames, scoring all four goals in the first half. The Bulldogs rocked CSM with 10 shots while only allowing two (13-5 total) and Savannah Andrews got CUNE started with barely over a minute off the clock. Gyllenswan and Ashlee Trujillo put a goal apiece in the back of the net for their first scores of the season.
· Garner has been on another level in the past three games, scoring seven goals and seven assists in the last eight days. The two time GPAC offensive player of the week has totaled 19 goals (2nd in GPAC), 10 assists (3rd) and 48 total points (2nd) in the 2024 season. Among the top goal scorers in the league, the Kearney, Neb., forward leads with the best shot percentage (.352) and shot on goal percentage (.722). Garner has totaled 46 career goals and is one away from tying Gentri Brown (2003-06) at No. 4 in the program’s history. The go-ahead Garner has pushed the program’s record to 17 game winning scores in her career.
· Averaging 10.5 shots per game, the Bulldogs are dangerous when getting a kick on the ball, ranked No. 6 in the NAIA in shot percentage (.258). Those leading the pack (at least 10 shots) are freshman Kyana Rios (.364), Garner (.352), Andrews (.233) and Hannah Haas (.200). Concordia’s leader in goals scored: Garner (19), Andrews (seven), Rios (four) and Sierra Springer (three). There have been 13 Bulldogs score this year and 19 have contributed points in the deep roster.
· During the eight game dominant run, the Bulldogs have averaged 4 goals per game, while making it seemingly impossible to score for their opponents (0.38). They have proven to play superior to their last eight opponents in many statistics. Categories of dominance: goals (32-3), shot percentage (.320-.051), shot attempts (100-59), corner kicks (38-21) and assists (25-3). The Concordia defense has made it tough in the defensive third almost doubling the conference foes in shots on goal (67-36).The defense has recorded five shutouts and two complete clean sheets by Angela Banks. The Saint Joseph High product has registered 30 saves, 0.44 goals allowed average and a .909 save percentage in the 613 minute stretch. Taylor Slaymaker, Triniti Rowe, Avery Black, Sadie Mares, Hannah Kile and Senna McMullen have clamped down on opposing offenses, only allowing 7.4 shots per game.
The opponent
The Flames come into the tournament with a tie (1-1) against the regular season conference champs Hastings. In their last six games, CSM has managed a 1-4-1 record with its lone win coming against Midland (3-0). The Flames have scored 45 goals this season, one behind Concordia, and freshman Ella Klusman and junior Marrisa Ring are out front with seven goals and five assists apiece. College of Saint Mary has averaged 14 shots per game, 2.50 goals and a .179 shot percentage. Keeper Alivia Schade has played 1,485 minutes between the posts and had three shutouts. She has 78 saves and a .736 save percentage.
GPAC tournament pairings
Quarterfinals – Saturday, Nov. 2
(8) Midland at (1) Hastings, 7 p.m.
(5) Briar Cliff at (4) Morningside, 6 p.m.
(6) Doane at (3) Dordt, 2 p.m.
(7) College of Saint Mary at (2) Concordia, 7 p.m.
Semifinals – Thursday, Nov. 7
1/8 winner vs. 4/5 winner, time TBA
2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner, time TBA
Championship – Tuesday, Nov. 12
Highest remaining seed hosts, time TBA