SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Concordia Women’s Soccer traveled to face Dordt on Saturday afternoon. Down 2-0, the Bulldogs showed heart in the second half, tying the Defenders (2-2) with under two minutes to go. The 2023 GPAC Offensive Player of the Year Karinna Tel, scored a heartbreaker in the final seconds to seal a 3-2 win in favor of the home team.
CUNE has collected an overall record of 3-4-1 and 0-2 early in the conference season. Head Coach Nick Smith commented on what his team did to score the two late goals and moments the team can improve.
“We were doing what we did all game long. At halftime, I felt like it was unfair that we were losing the game. We out-chanced them in the first half. We passed the ball really well. We are just losing in critical moments. Right now, it’s the counter moments. It’s the small numbers game when they are going towards our goal. The two goals were just a reward for the way that we play. In the final seconds, we had a penalty that wasn’t given, and we didn’t react well. We allowed the ball to be pushed up the field. At a minimum, we deserved to get a tie out of this game, and it is really disappointing not to win.”
Down 2-0 with 11 minutes to play, Senior Katelyn Smith rocketed a shot off the left posts, followed the clang, and buried her second try in the bottom right corner. The Millard North product tallied the second goal in her career and helped start the comeback in Sioux Center.
With under two minutes to play, goal-scoring machine Kierstynn Garner was able to make use of a Rosie Gyllenswan shot that hit the post for a tap in score. The Kearney, Neb., native has tied (9) Hastings’ Dekota Schubert for the top goal scorer in the league and led the Bulldogs with five shots (three on goal).
After a Joslyn Terpstra takeaway, she kicked a clear ball out of the opposing side and toward her teammate Karinna Tel. Tel was able to beat a Concordia defender to the ball and score with only seconds left in the match.
The Bulldog side played 19 and found success in different points of the game. The Defenders edged out the visitors in shots (13-11) but were beaten in quality chances (6-5 SOG). Concordia was able to edge out the home team in corners (6-4).
In the 65th minute, Aliya Vidro was subbed in as goalkeeper for Angela Banks. The freshman, out of Colorado Springs, Colo., saw her first playing time in her career.
After a 4-0 shutout in favor of the Bulldogs in 2023, Dordt (5-1-1, 1-0-1 GPAC) kept its powerful offensive line up from last year that included 2023 GPAC Offensive Player of the Year Tel, along with all-conference players Terpstra and Ellie Stuart. Tel was instrumental in the win scoring two goals, along with the game winner, and an assist on the day. Terpstra scored the first half goal and both are in the top-5 in goals scored for the GPAC. The Defenders will face Waldorf this coming Wednesday.
CUNE (3-4-1, 0-2 GPAC) will be back in Bulldog Stadium for both matches next week, including Homecoming on Saturday. No. 25 Hastings (6-1-2, 2-0 GPAC) will travel to Seward on Wednesday. The Bulldogs and Broncos tied (2-2) last season in October.