SEWARD, Neb. – After having over a week off from the competition field, the Bulldogs will finish off their non-conference run with York University, then dive into conference play versus Northwestern. Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer defeated Kansas Wesleyan University (3-1) in its last time on the pitch and tied in-state Bellevue University (1-1) in the previous contest. Head Coach Nick Smith remains unbeaten 4-0-2 through six games.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 17 vs. York (0-3-1), 8 p.m.
Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, Sept. 20 at Northwestern (4-2), 3:30 p.m.
Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: NWC Soccer Complex (Orange City, Iowa)
Senior day came early for the Bulldogs and the celebration continued over the Coyotes with a decisive victory. With both teams recently receiving votes, Concordia slashed Kansas Wesleyan via Savannah Andrews’ final touch. The midfielder, after a first shot save, collected the rebound to put the Dawgs first on the board. After Andrews scored her first goal of the season, her confidence electrified her next shot, sending in a screaming boot as she celebrated before the ball had a chance to hit the net. Charli Priester continued to press for her goal and tacked on her third score of the year in the 75th minute. The Bulldog defense has given up seven goals in six games, but four have now come from penalty kicks as the Coyotes earned a tally on the scoreboard from a handball in the box. Goalkeeper Grady Smith grabbed four saves in her first career start.
Last season the Bruins and Dawgs ended in a draw and the game ended with the same score in 2025. Kierstynn Garner pressed the Bellevue keeper and forced a wild pass as the Kearney, Neb., striker made the opposition pay to score the go-ahead goal (25’) in the opening frame. A tough Bruin lineup responded with a cross to a Lily Humes header for the equalizer. Concordia settled into the home squad’s press in Renner Dennis and the game was played primarily in the midfield in the closing half. The protector of the net, Aliya Vidro, blocked out 10 saves, a game high on the current campaign.
The senior Andrews started a little slower in the first two contests (zero points) but has been on fire in the final third of the past four games. A Gretna High alum, the pink-booted Bulldog has racked up three assists and two goals in the last four games. Her first points came against Dakota State University (S.D.) with the eventual game-winning assist to Kyana Rios. In her career, Andrews has played in 59 games, scored 27 goals, 11 assists and 65 points.
Garner, a senior forward, continues to rack up award earning her 7th career GPAC Offensive Player of the Week award in the opening of the 2025 honors. The Kearney High product has produced early with seven goals (2nd in GPAC) and four dishes (T-2nd in GPAC) for a total of a conference-leading 18 points. She also made her way past Brittany Thomsick (2003-06) for the program’s third leading scorer (55 goals) and Gentri Brown (2003-06) as the fourth most in career points (134). KG is one game-winner away from 20 career go-ahead scores and has 22 assists in her time as a Dawg.
Sanchez, a freshman from Gretna, Neb., is right behind Garner with four goals (T-3rd in GPAC), two assists and 10 points (T-4th in GPAC) in the opening four games. Against Nebraska Wesleyan, Sanchez scored her first career game-winning goal and assisted the go-ahead score in the win over No. 4 Columbia College (Mo.). Averaging over three points a game in the last three bouts, the Grand Island Northwest alum has translated her scoring into the next level for Concordia. Freshman Charli Priester (three) and Rios (two) have also put their hat in the scoring ring, with the Omaha South product taking a game-sealing goal versus Dakota State.
Coming into the first week of conference play, the Bulldogs have the highest winning percentage (.833) against non-conference opponents with a 4-0-2 record. Following the Seward side, Morningside (.800) is the only remaining unbeaten (3-0-2) and Hastings (.786) has only one loss (5-1-1). Northwestern (.667) has totaled a 4-2 slate and Mount Marty (.500) is 3-3. The remaining of the GPAC is under .500, including Dakota Wesleyan (.375), Waldorf (.375), Doane (.357), Briar Cliff (.333), Dordt (.300), Midland (.300) and College of Saint Mary (.167).
Down 1-0, Concordia’s Hannah Haas delivered a strike, assisted by Garner, to knot up the score just before the half against the Panthers in 2024. Haas, the former Bulldog midfielder, pressured the York keeper in the second frame with energy, forcing an own goal to put the Dawgs up with the go-ahead score. Under Coach Smith, the Bulldogs are 2-0 against the Panthers. Two words would describe last season’s matchup versus the Red Raiders: roller coaster. Concordia dominated the first half with a 12-0 shot advantage and that only amounted to one score by Andrews (assisted by Sadie Mares). Within nine minutes of coming back on the field after the intermission, Northwestern mounted four straight goals. Garner and the Dawgs responded with two goals in the 55th and 66th minutes to bring themselves within one (4-3). The last 24 minutes leveled as Concordia couldn’t find an equalizer.
York
The Panthers have a winless record with an 0-3-1 showing through four games. Facing all four GPAC teams, York tied Dakota Wesleyan (1-1) and fell to Doane (1-0), Mount Marty (2-1) and Midland (1-0). Former Bulldog and Head Coach Benny Hanaphy enters his second season as the head coach of the Panthers. York has scored two goals, one by Lucia Tornero. The Panthers only allow 1.25 goals per game as the strength of the side is the defensive third. Switching out time for the goalies, Harumi Cornejo has played 225 minutes between the posts and has 25 saves and a .862 save percentage.
Northwestern
The Red Raiders are 4-2 with wins over William Penn University (Iowa), 2-0, Bethel College (Kan.), 1-0, Avila University (Mo.), 3-1, and common opponent Dakota State University (S.D.), 3-2. Northwestern fell to another familiar for Bellevue University (2-0) in its season opener. Scoring 10 goals through six games, the Red Raiders have allowed seven or 1.17 scores to their opposition. With a .477 shot on goal percentage, they have seven assisted goals and a .154 shot percentage. NWC’s Bailey Bynum has played all 540 minutes between the posts and has 31 saves and .816 sav
Next Week
Concordia will travel to Omaha and face off against College of Saint Mary, then come back to Seward and host Briar Cliff on the next go-round. The Bulldogs will make their way to Heritage Park and come back to Bulldog Stadium the following Saturday. The Red Raiders are under new Head Coach Vitor Pereira hired in the spring of 2025.
Wednesday, Sept. 24
3 p.m. – at CSM
Saturday, Sept. 7
3:30 p.m. – vs. Briar Cliff