CHICKASHA, Okla. – A new era commenced under for the Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer program at McLaughlin Field on Thursday night (Aug. 20). In a 109-degree hot box, the 20th-ranked University of Science and Arts (Okla.) came out in mid-season form scoring early and often in the 4-0 loss for the Bulldogs. Freshmen Addie Snyder and Molli Kalsbeck saw their first collegiate action.
“They high pressed pretty effectively,” Head Coach Jason Weides said. “Initially we didn’t deal with it very well. We made some adjustments and started to deal with it better, but ultimately, they made goals in the early moments. We have to figure out how to play in it, out of it and beyond it.”
Returning five of its seven All-SAC players from a national qualifying team a season ago, the veteran led Drovers found an early gift via an own goal off a Bulldog defender on USAO’s cross by Ashlee Davison in the fourth minute.
Just 11 minutes later, the relentless home high press gave way for Drovers Paula Casajus to deliver a strike just inside the box after a dish from previous NAIA All-American Ilse de Jong. In the 21st minute, USAO’s Davidson finished a ball in the top right corner to give the home team an early hat trick.
Concordia continued to work out of the back, but the Drovers 11 stayed tight the majority of the contest limiting possession in the final third.
The Bulldogs’ best chances came from newcomers out of Kearney, Neb., as Synder took a first half free kick over the defender wall but the Drovers goalkeeper made the save in time. With a long free kick in the second stanza, Kalsbeck drilled a long ball from almost midfield and forced the opposing final defense to jump and push the potential score above the crossbar.
Many Bulldogs caught their first starts or meaningful action of their careers including Joey Long, Abigail Allen, Snyder, Kalsbeck, Madi Babisak, Camryn Higer and Alicia Lopez.
Coach Weides continued, “They competed. Their body language was enduring. Oklahoma has had a stretch of 105-plus degrees. It was a challenge for us. We weren’t at a championship level, but we are going to continue to get better.”
The Drovers put the nail in the coffin via Dagbjort Gudmundsdottir in the 51st minute. The returning NAIA All-American finished with a score and an assist to lead USAO.
Concordia (0-1) will have less than 48 hours before taking on Mid-America Christian (1-0) on Saturday morning (Aug. 22). The Bulldogs will stay in Oklahoma and will compete at Dill Soccer Field at 10 a.m. due to extreme heat.