Seward, Neb. – After opening the season with a two match week, the Concordia Women’s soccer team will have the weekend off from competition. Before that, the Bulldogs will host their home opener against in-state competitor Bellevue University on Wednesday (Sept. 4). Concordia went 1-1 last week taking home a 4-2 win versus Graceland University (Iowa) but fell to No. 10 Columbia University (Mo.), 4-0.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 4 vs. Bellevue (4-0), 5:30 p.m.
Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs traveled for their first two games and began with a bout versus the Yellowjackets. First Team All-GPAC Kierstynn Garner returned to mid-season form with four goals on four shots. The Kearney, Neb., native was assisted by newcomer Sierra McElhannon and long time teammate Hannah Haas. The senior midfielder, out of Colorado Springs, Colo., claimed her 10th career assist with the kick. Goalkeeper Angela Banks was the game one starter and punched out five saves, a single game career high for the senior from Downey, Calif.
· Columbia came out firing versus Concordia and scored two early. The Bulldogs tried to respond via a Garner kick that hit the post. Mirarosa Gyllenswan and Sierra Springer were able to get shots off but couldn’t find the back of the net against the frequent national tournament side. Macie Lucas scored a hat trick for the Cougars and Riley Porter finished with the final score. After the slow start, the defense settled and allowed only one score in the final fifty-nine minutes of the match.
· With the four goal performance, Garner became one of five players to score four goals in one contest. Two former Bulldogs have five goals, but current teammate Savannah Andrews scored four versus Mount Marty on Sept. 16, 2023, in an 8-1 route over the Lancers. KG (Garner) tied the most career game winning goals (13) matching Jessica Skerston (2014-16) for the program record. The Kearney High School alum has amassed 31 career goals in 40 games played.
· Concordia has a roster with 23 players which are either juniors, seniors or 5th year players, giving a huge experience advantage to most teams they will face. Many of the notable junior class team members have two years of starting experience and have names that many who follow the program know. The Bulldogs return All-GPAC nominees Savannah Andrews, Kierstynn Garner, Hannah Kile, Niah Kirchner, Sierra Springer, Bradi Ore and Taylor Slaymaker. Many others with a wealth of experience return such as Angela Banks, Hannah Haas, Kassidy Johnson, Sadie Mares, Senna McMullen, Shelby Rugg, Elena Ruiz and Ashlee Trujillo. The program has added transfers and freshmen, making the roster potentially the deepest it has been in years.
· After finishing at the No. 2 in the conference last year, the preseason expectations have risen to be the same. Concordia was picked to finish second as opposed to last year’s preseason poll (fifth). The Bulldogs went 13-4-3 overall and 8-1-3 in the GPAC in 2023. A late season tie at Briar Cliff eventually became a deciding factor for Concordia to lose the tie for first place with Hastings dropping to second. Nick Smith’s squad defeated Jamestown (2-1) in the quarterfinals but fell to Midland (2-0) in the semis on its way to a GPAC Tournament Championship.
Bellevue
The Bruins come into the game with an unblemished 4-0 record, having beaten three GPAC teams in the process. Dakota Wesleyan (1-0), Northwestern (5-0) and College of Saint Mary (2-1) all came up short against Bellevue in their contests. In their last match, the Bruins defeated Tabor (4-1) at their home field, Papillion Landing. The visitors have scored 12 goals and average 16.3 shots per contest with a .523 shot on goal percentage. They have a high assist to goal ratio with 10 of the 12 coming via a teammate. The offense is tough to defend with four players having two scores apiece in Mia Hurt, Adi Kasel, Sami Reding and Ketlyn Rota. Maju Serrano is the assist leader with three passes going in for goal. Sophomore goal keeper Alessia Ricciardi has played all 360 minutes tallying five saves and two goals allowed.
Next Week
The Bulldogs will host a nonconference versus Benedictine College (Kan.) and travel to York University on Sept. 14. The first match will be played at Bulldog Stadium and the next at the York Soccer Complex.
Wednesday, Sept. 4
5:30 p.m. – vs. Benedictine
Wednesday, Sept. 4
12 p.m. – at York