SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia will continue to matchup against more conference foes this week, facing Dordt (Sept. 20) in the midweek, and traveling to Northwestern in the match on Saturday (Sept. 23). The Bulldogs came away with two dominant wins this past week moving to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the GPAC. They traveled for their final nonconference opponent, shutting out Nebraska Wesleyan University (4-0) on Thursday (Sept. 14). The Dawgs came back to Bulldog Stadium to host a route (8-1) of Mount Marty earning their first GPAC win of 2023.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 20 vs. Dordt (3-2-1, 1-0-1 GPAC), 8 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 23 vs. Northwestern (3-4, 1-1 GPAC), 3:15 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: NWC Soccer Complex
By the numbers
· Concordia came into the Nebraska Wesleyan matchup with a 0-2 record in the past two games against two tough opponents. Needing to end a scoring drought, Kierstynn Garner broke through in the 25th minute by splitting the defender in between her and the ball on the way to her third goal of the season. In the 35th minute Springer, looking to get in on the action, took the ball from a back line defender in the box with eyes for a second goal. She passed the ball to an attacking Kassidy Johnson but it was tapped away by the keeper to a pressing Haas who knocked down the first goal of her junior year. Up 2-0 with less than a minute in the half, Lily Barber stole the ball and hit a perfect tear drop pass to Sierra Springer, striking the ball past the keeper for her first collegiate goal. The Bulldogs overwhelmed the Prairie Wolves in advantages in shots, 15-1, and corner kicks, 6-0. Angela Banks acquired the shutout (one save), while Garner contributed another goal in the 4-0 win.
· CUNE didn’t go into a common offensive lull after a decisive win in their previous match. Quite the opposite, as the Dawgs only needed 16 minutes to make mincemeat of Mount Marty. They scored five goals in that amount of time, as Savannah Andrews added a hat trick scoring three goals in four minutes before head coach Nick Smith benched a few starters for the rest of the first half. The 8-1 finishing was the most goals scored by Concordia since 2018 (12-0 vs. Mount Marty) and matches the biggest margin of victory since 2020 (7-0 vs. Doane). Garner took the lead off an error by the goalie making a pass to a tightly contested defender. Sierra Springer, with something to prove in her first start, took the ball and kicked it over to Kierstynn for an easy score. In the second goal, Andrews blocked by the goalie, left a bouncing ball to Niah Kirchner. She kicked in her first score in 2023 in the far bottom corner just out of reach keeper. Springer added her second goal in two games and perhaps the most impressive goal of the match. Andrews and Garner finished with one more goal apiece before the final time.
· Following a massive week from the Concordia women’s soccer team, Andrews, Garner, Springer, and Angela Banks sit in the top leaderboards in the GPAC. Andrews leads the GPAC in goals scored (8) and points (16) after just entering GPAC play. Garner, not far behind, sits third (6) in goals scored and fourth in points (13). Springer sits in second in assists (4), as Banks sits in fourth (.67) for goals-against average.
· Sierra Springer, a sophomore out of Valparaiso, Neb., found herself in the starting lineup versus Mount Marty for the first time in her career at Concordia. Her impact is just now being seen on the scorecard, adding eight points with two goals and four assists this week. She now is in second atop the GPAC in assists (4) and was involved in six of the 12 goals from this week. Her goal against Mount Marty was a kick of beauty via her teammate Kassidy Johnson. With the pass, she outran two defenders, moving right, she eyed the goalie teetering in the same direction and booted it back to the top left corner for the impressive score. While Springer may have just now found some spotlight this past week, her coaches and teammates have been adamant that this is a product of work through her time as a Bulldog.
Dordt
The Defenders come into Wedneday’s match with a 3-2-1 overall record and 1-0-1 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). They have had wins over Avila University (3-1), Central Baptist College (4-0) and most recently, College of Saint Mary (CSM) in a 5-1 victory on Saturday (Sept. 16). Their last loss was to Bellevue University (2-1) and they tied with common GPAC opponent Briar Cliff. They have 16 goals averaging 13.7 shots per game, while allowing 8 goals scored and 8.3 shots per game. Their shot on goal percentage is a high .610 and they own the second highest shot percentage (.195), behind Concordia (.204). Their leading point scorer through six games is Karinna Tel with five goals and two assists. Other top goal performers are, Joslyn Terpstra (4 goals) and Ellie Stuart (3 goals and two assists). Their main keeper Jenna Wright has played 530 minutes and allowed seven goals. She averages 1.19 goals per game and has a save percentage of .731.
Northwestern
The Red Raiders are 3-4 overall and 1-1 in the GPAC. They have wins over Central Baptist (1-0), Friends University (3-0), and common GPAC opponent Briar Cliff (1-0). They have fallen to Bellevue (5-0) and CSM (2-0). They will host Morningside on Wednesday (Sept. 20) at the NWC Soccer Complex. NWC has had seven goals and 13.4 shots per game, while allowing 13 goals scored and 21 shots per game. They have hit 57-94 shots on goal (.606 percentage), while only having two assists. Julie Dunlap has four goals and one assists as the team leader with Aliza Edwards having two through her 17 shots. Abby Bastian has 555 minutes between the posts, gathering 57 saves with a .864 save percentage. She has allowed 1.46 goals per game.
Next Week
The Bulldogs will step on the field at home versus Midland on Wednesday (Sept. 27), then will travel to Mitchell, S.D. on Saturday (Sept. 30) to face off against Dakota Wesleyan. The matches are listed below and will be hosted at Bulldog Stadium and the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex.
Wednesday, Sept. 27
8 p.m. – vs. Midland
Saturday, Sept. 30
5:30 p.m. – vs. Dakota Wesleyan