SEWARD, Neb. – For the second time in a week-and-a-half, the Concordia University women’s soccer team will be headed to Fremont, Neb. The third-seeded Bulldogs earned their spot in the GPAC tournament semifinals thanks to a 1-0 home quarterfinal win over sixth-seeded Morningside on Wednesday night. Now the focus turns to another battle with 17th-ranked Midland (13-1-3).
Concordia and Midland will kick things off in the semifinals at 2 p.m. CT from Heedum Field. The two sides also met in the 2016 conference semifinals. A live stream can be found via Midland’s Stretch Internet portal.
It certainly was no easy chore for sixth-year head coach Greg Henson’s squad to get past Morningside in the quarterfinals. The contest was stuck in a 0-0 stalemate until sophomore Victoria Cera emerged with what may end up being the highlight reel goal of the season. From nearly 40 yards out, Cera drilled the ball over the top of the keeper and into the back of the net. The Bulldogs saw out the victory despite being outshot 12-5.
GPAC postseason success has become an annual thing for Henson’s programs. Since Henson took over the program prior to 2013, Concordia has made at least the conference semifinal round each season and enters this Saturday hoping to advance to the final game for the fifth year in a row. Since the start of 2014, the Bulldogs are officially 10-1-2 in GPAC tournament play with Concordia splitting two separate penalty kick shootouts against Hastings. The Bulldogs are aiming for their third GPAC tournament title in five seasons (2014, 2016).
Concordia could use another big strike on Saturday like the one it just got from Cera. Goals will be challenging to find against a Midland team that has allowed only two all season against conference opponents. To complicate matters, the Bulldogs have had to cope without senior captain Maria Deeter, although she did see brief action at the end of the first half against Morningside. Without her, Lauren Martin (nine goals, 16 assists) represents the team’s biggest threat.
One goal was also enough for the Warriors in their quarterfinal win over seventh-seeded Dordt. Star forward Nayeli Rodriguez found the back of the net in the 64th minute for what turned into the game winner. Head coach Greg Jarosik’s squad pairs stingy defensive tendencies with its goal scoring duo of Rodriguez and PT Perez (14 goals) up top. Midland is attempting to reach the GPAC final for the first time since 2009. In the regular season meeting in Fremont on Oct. 24, the Bulldogs and Warriors played to a 1-1 draw.
Whichever team comes out on top in Fremont will advance to play in the championship game on Thursday, Nov. 8 against either top-seeded Hastings or fifth-seeded Briar Cliff.
2018 GPAC Women’s Soccer Tournament
Wednesday, Oct. 31 – Quarterfinals
No. 1 Hastings 6, No. 8 College of Saint Mary 0
No. 5 Briar Cliff 0, No. 4 Jamestown 0 (Briar Cliff advances on PK’s, 4-2)
No. 3 Concordia 1, No. 6 Morningside 0
No. 2 Midland 1, No. 7 Dordt 0
Saturday, Nov. 3 – Semifinals
No. 3 Concordia (12-2-5) at No. 2 Midland (13-1-3), 2 p.m.
No. 5 Briar Cliff (9-8-2) at No. 1 Hastings (14-0-3), 6 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 8 – Championship
Time TBA