SEWARD, Neb. – For an astounding fifth year in a row, the Concordia University women’s soccer team finds itself in the GPAC tournament championship game. For the third time during that run, Hastings will serve as the opponent in the title clash. This year’s matchup is set for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff on Thursday from Lloyd Wilson Field in Hastings.
Hastings will provide a live webcast via its Stretch Internet portal. Additionally, live in-game updates will be supplied via the @cunebulldogs Twitter account.
Sixth-year head coach Greg Henson’s squad may not have ended the regular season the way it wanted to, but it’s attempting to make up for it with another extended postseason run. The Bulldogs seem to have rediscovered the winning formula used by the 2017 GPAC regular-season champion squad. A goal apiece from sophomore Tori Cera and senior Lauren Martin is all Concordia has needed to make its way through the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. In goal, sophomore Lindsey Carley earned credit for shutouts in both victories with the help of a back line that limited Morningside and No. 17 Midland to a combined nine shots on goal.
The Bulldogs return eight players who started in the 2017 GPAC championship game. The battle tested group last ventured to Hastings in 2016 in what resulted in a 2-1 regular-season loss for Concordia. The Bulldogs recovered to win the GPAC tournament title game that season, just as they did in 2014. Since the beginning of 2014, Concordia is officially 11-1-2 in GPAC postseason action with the two ties being broken by penalty kicks.
This 2018 squad still has a shot to put itself in the discussion with the best teams in program history, all of which have been guided in recent seasons by Henson. This year’s team has outscored its opponents by a combined total of 65-19 over 20 games. The 65 goals scored rank as the third highest single-season total in school history. Individually, Concordia’s goals leaders are Maria Deeter (14), Brynn Suddeth (12) and Lauren Martin (10 goals, 16 assists). Mostly a spectator this postseason due to injury, Deeter saw just over two minutes of action in the quarterfinal win over Morningside.
Head coach Chris Clements’ squad enters the game ranked 11th nationally. The Broncos (15-0-3) have yet to lose this season. Within conference play, they tied both Concordia and Midland. No matter the result on Thursday, Hastings has locked up a bid to the national tournament via its GPAC regular-season title. The Broncos have outnumbered their foes, 54-11, this season with Rhiannon Castle de Ortega (14 goals) leading the charge on the attack. Hastings has been sharp in the postseason, posting wins by scores of 6-0 over College of Saint Mary and 5-0 over Briar Cliff.
The GPAC’s second automatic berth to the national championships will either go to Concordia or Midland. If the Bulldogs were to lose on Thursday, the Warriors would grab the bid due to their second-place finish in the regular season. The opening round of the national championships will be played Saturday, Nov. 17 at campus sites.
Concordia in the GPAC tournament championship game
2017 – Tied Hastings, 0-0 – 2 OT (Hastings won on PK’s, 3-2)
2016 – Def. Morningside, 3-1
2015 – Lost at Morningside, 2-1
2014 – Def. Hastings, 1-0
2018 GPAC Women’s Soccer Tournament
Wednesday, Oct. 31 – Quarterfinals
No. 1 Hastings 6, No. 8 College of Saint Mary 0
No. 5 Briar Cliff 0, No. 4 Jamestown 0 (Briar Cliff advances on PK’s, 4-2)
No. 3 Concordia 1, No. 6 Morningside 0
No. 2 Midland 1, No. 7 Dordt 0
Saturday, Nov. 3 – Semifinals
No. 3 Concordia 1, No. 2 Midland 0
No. 1 Hastings 5, No. 5 Briar Cliff 0
Thursday, Nov. 8 – Championship
No. 3 Concordia (13-2-5) at No. 1 Hastings (15-0-3), 7 p.m.