SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University women’s soccer team will pack a renewed feeling of confidence along with it on the long road trip to North Dakota for Thursday’s GPAC tournament quarterfinal matchup at Jamestown. The Bulldogs are coming off a 2-0 final week of the regular season that vaulted them into sixth place in the GPAC standings. Head coach Chris Luther’s squad may be hitting its stride at the right time.
GPAC Quarterfinals
Thursday, Nov. 7 at Jamestown, 7 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats
--Admission for GPAC postseason events is $10 for adults, $3 for students K-12th grade and free for GPAC students who present their college ID.
Some shuffling of the deck appears to have sparked a Concordia offensive attack that struggled through the bulk of the regular season. The dynamics changed last week with the Bulldogs (6-10-2, 6-4-2 GPAC) earning wins over Doane, 3-2 (double overtime), and Dakota Wesleyan, 4-1. The seven goals in those two contests equaled Concordia’s goal total from the previous seven games combined. Four Bulldogs combined for last week’s seven goals: Tori Cera (two), Kaley Heinz, Mikeila Martinez, Morgan Raska and Michaela Twito (two). Twito was credited with game-winning goals in both contests.
The results last week were a departure from the types of low scoring grinders that had been typical of the conference season. Over 18 games, Concordia was outscored by its opponents by a combined total of 24-19 (the Bulldogs held an 18-11 advantage within conference play). The Doane contest marked the fifth time in six games that Concordia went to double overtime. On the season, the Bulldogs have played in seven overtime games (13 overtime periods). Concordia went 3-1-1 to close the regular season with the lone loss being a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Jamestown.
The Bulldogs consistently produced impressive results in the postseason under previous head coach Greg Henson. Concordia owns an active streak of five-straight GPAC tournament championship game appearances. The Bulldogs won the GPAC postseason title in 2014 and 2016. The program has not endured a loss in the GPAC quarterfinals since the 2012 campaign (2-1 loss at Doane). Without star Maria Deeter in the postseason last year, Concordia topped Morningside, 1-0, and then 17th-ranked Midland, 1-0, to reach the title game. No. 11 Hastings ended the Bulldogs’ season in a 1-0 double overtime decision.
The Jimmies (12-6, 10-2 GPAC) are riding a four-game win streak into the conference tournament. Their only loss over their last eight games was a 1-0 contest against GPAC regular-season champion Midland. Jamestown has tallied 43 goals to its opponents’ 19 this fall. Kamryn Fiscus has found the back of the net seven times. The Jimmies are in their second season as a member of the GPAC. They also hosted in the GPAC quarterfinals last season and were eliminated by Briar Cliff in a PK shootout.
Thursday’s winner will advance to the semifinals and play either second-seeded Hastings or seventh-seeded Northwestern on Tuesday, Nov. 12. In regular-season action, Concordia edged Northwestern, 1-0, and fell to Hastings, 1-0 (double overtime). The highest seeds host in each round.
2019 GPAC Women’s Soccer Tournament
Quarterfinals – Thursday, November 7
No. 8 Morningside at No. 1 Midland, 1 p.m.
No. 5 Briar Cliff at No. 4 Dordt, 1 p.m.
No. 6 Concordia at No. 3 Jamestown, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Northwestern at No. 2 Hastings, 7 p.m.
Semifinals – Tuesday, November 12
No. 1/8 winner vs. No. 4/5 winner, time TBA
No. 2/7 winner vs. No. 3/6 winner, time TBA
Championship – Friday, November 15
Time TBA