SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University women’s soccer team has accomplished exactly what it set out to do in its first two GPAC contests of 2017. The Bulldogs again dominated possession while Jeannelle Condame’s deadly weapon of a free kick helped spark a 5-0 win over visiting Mount Marty (2-5, 0-2 GPAC) on Tuesday night.
Fifth-year head coach Greg Henson’s squad has improved to 6-2-2 overall and to 2-0 in conference play. Dating back to last season, Concordia has won 10 consecutive games against GPAC foes. In this rare instance, Henson’s bunch had only one off day after topping Dakota Wesleyan on Sunday.
“We talk about all the time in the locker room how getting three points (in the conference standings) is what we’re looking for,” Henson said. “Get it done any which way, whether it’s an ugly game or a pretty game. I’m proud of the girls and the effort tonight with a 5-0 convincing win. We were able to get a lot of players into the match.”
The final score failed to depict the mismatch that played out inside Bulldog Stadium. The Bulldogs outshot the Lancers, 41-3, and held the visitor without a shot until late in the first half. Ten different players in the home white kits got at least one shot off. Sami Birmingham and Maria Deeter rattled off 10 shots apiece. Lancer keeper Consuelo Michel was under constant fire. She saved 19 of the 24 shots on goal.
Each of Concordia’s first two goals came on exceptionally well-executed free kicks by Condame. The first score was facilitated by Condame’s ball into the box that Deeter headed into the back of the net less than a minute-and-a-half after the opening kickoff. Eighteen minutes later, Condame completely froze the goalkeeper with a 35-yard strike laced into the upper right corner of the frame.
“It was kind of a weird situation because they didn’t even set up a wall,” Condame said. “She cheated to the left so I had to go to the right, or at least try to, and it worked.”
It was a night when Bulldog attackers licked their chops at the smorgasbord of opportunities. Esther Soenksen got into the act early in the second half when she found an unmarked Deeter in front of an empty net for a tap in goal. Moments later, Soenksen played a ball from Taylor Roby into the back of the net.
There were a series of additional shots that drilled the crossbar. Not only that, Concordia enjoyed a 12-0 advantage in corner kicks as the ball lived on the Bulldog attacking third. It meant for a quiet night for center backs Chelsea Bright and Leah Shohat and goalkeepers Lindsey Carley and Jessica Knedler. The comfortable margin allowed for a total of 24 players to see action for the Bulldogs.
Concordia hopes this is just the start of another magical ride within the GPAC. Said Condame, “We know that our talent is higher than in past years. Every year we just keep getting better and better, and our team dynamic is really good. Everyone’s positive. Everyone’s wanting the best for the team.”
The Bulldogs will remain at home on Saturday and host College of Saint Mary (5-5, 2-0 GPAC). Kickoff from Seward is set for 1 p.m. CT. Concordia also welcomed the Flames to Seward in 2016. The result was a 4-0 Bulldog victory.