Bulldogs pick up win, break four year win record
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University women’s soccer team defeated College of Saint Mary, 3-2 on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Goals for the Bulldogs came from Ashley Martin, Jessica Skerston and Jordan McCoy. The win gives the seniors on the team 41 victories, the most in a four year span since the 2003-06 seasons.
Head coach Greg Henson said, “We talked before hand and said this needed to be treated like a playoff game. We needed three points to try to help ourselves get into the playoffs and positioning ourselves once we’re in. We wanted to come out and find a win a game against a good opponent, and I feel we did that.”
The win improves Concordia to 11-5-1, 5-4-1 GPAC while College of Saint Mary drops to 8-6-1, 4-5-1 GPAC this season.
The Flames struck first nearly nine minutes into the game. Jenna Herse scored her fifth goal of the season to give CSM an early lead. Martin answered back 29 minutes later with the assistance of Esther Soenksen. The equalizer was the freshman’s second goal of the year. A minute and a couple seconds later, Skerston picked up her seventh goal this season off a ball from Maria Deeter to put the Bulldogs up by one.
McCoy got her fourth goal of the year three and a half minutes into the second stanza with the help of Leigha McConnell. CSM scored with over 30 minutes left in the match in the form of Lexi Bolamperti to set the final 3-2 score.
“We made it difficult on ourselves early in the match falling behind,” Henson noted. “We showed a lot of resolve in coming back to get two goals before the break and scoring a third one right after the second half started. Saint Mary was able to get one back and it was just a matter of managing off the game. I’m very happy with the play for the most part. I think we’re in a good position now. We need three points now on Saturday and we’ll find out where we sit in the standings.”
GPAC Defensive Player of the Week, Chrissy Lind marked up five saves during the match. The Flames’ keeper, Courtney Smith saved three Bulldog shots.
The Bulldogs took nine shots, six on goal while College of Saint Mary took seven, all on goal. Concordia also had the advantage in corner kicks, 3-2.
“We’ve been in it for the last three games," Henson said. "We’re going to continue on this ride of playoff mode. With some of the results we weren’t able to get earlier in the season we put ourselves in a backs against the wall type of position. We need to make sure we’re ready to play and geared up for the game and then execute.”
The Concordia women’s soccer team will be back on the pitch on Saturday, Oct. 31. The Lancers of Mount Marty College (1-15, 0-10 GPAC) will pay a visit to Bulldog Stadium for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff.