NAIA women’s soccer postseason poll
SEWARD, Neb. – For the third-straight year, and for the fourth time in five seasons, the Concordia University women’s soccer program has received votes in the NAIA coaches’ postseason poll. The Bulldogs collected six points in the final poll release of the 2018 campaign, unveiled on Wednesday (Dec. 5). Out of 12 poll announcements in 2018, head coach Greg Henson’s squad were listed among “others receiving votes” in 10 of them.
Concordia hovered near the top 25 rankings with 29 points in the poll just prior to the 1-0 double overtime loss at Hastings (No. 11 in the postseason poll) on Nov. 8. That near miss was enough for the Bulldogs to lose traction in the polls despite having also defeated Midland (No. 9 in the postseason poll) in the GPAC semifinals. Concordia finished 13-3-5 overall and placed third in the conference regular-season standings. It was also ranked third in the official GPAC ratings.
Throughout 2018, the Bulldogs again showed they could compete with top 25 competition. Concordia went a combined 1-1-3 against the likes of No. 9 Midland, No. 11 Hastings and No. 21 Kansas Wesleyan University. Maria Deeter and company also earned a draw with MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.), another squad that received votes nationally.
The ’18 Concordia team appeared to be one quality victory away from cracking the top 25. Under Henson’s direction, the Bulldogs have appeared in the national top 25 seven times with a peak position of 16th in September 2015. The 2014 GPAC tournament championship squad became the first in program history to break into the top 25.
Program all-time national rankings
*Have ended a season receiving votes in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018
2017
Nov. 7 – 21st
Oct. 31 – 22nd
2015
Oct. 6 – 23rd
Sept. 29 – 18th
Sept. 22 – 16th
Aug. 18 – 21st
2014
Nov. 16 – 24th