GAME NOTES: No. 21 women’s soccer welcomes No. 6 Benedictine College
SEWARD, Neb. – After over ten days of rest, the No. 21 Concordia women’s soccer team will welcome No. 6 Benedictine College to Bulldog Stadium on Saturday Sept. 12 for a 1 p.m. kickoff. Both the Bulldogs and Ravens come into the match with unblemished records.
MATCH INFO
No. 6 Benedictine College (5-0) at No. 21 Concordia University (3-0)
Saturday, Sept. 12, 1 p.m. CT
Site: Bulldog Stadium
Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
Last time out
Up against a York College team bullish on defending its own goal, sophomore Esther Soenksen continued her prolific run of early-season goal scoring for the 21st-ranked Concordia University women’s soccer team. Behind four goals from Soenksen, the Bulldogs pummeled the host Panthers, 7-0, at Cornerstone Soccer Complex on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Maria Deeter contributed two goals while Jessica Skerston found the back of the net one time for the Bulldogs.
Soenksen receives player of the week honors
Having already topped her season goal total from 2014, sophomore Esther Soenksen has ridden a hot start to 2015 to GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week recognition, as announced by the conference on Tuesday, Sept. 9. It’s the first career weekly award for the former Lincoln Lutheran High School standout. Soenksen now has seven goals over the season’s first three games for the 21st-ranked Bulldogs.
GPAC individual rankings
Jeannelle Condame – total assists, tied for third (2)
Maria Deeter – points per game, tied for fifth (2.0), total points, tied for fifth (6), goals per game, tied for fourth (1.0), total goals, tied for fifth (3), shots per game, tied for 10th (3.00)
Leigha McConnell – total assists, tied for seventh (1)
Chrissy Lind – goals against average, first (0.39)
Jessica Skerston – total points, tied for eighth (5), goals per game, tied for 10th (0.67) total goals, tied for seventh (2), total assists, tied for seventh (1), shots per game, first (5.33), shots on goal per game, seventh (2.33)
Esther Soenksen – points per game, first (5.0), total points, first (15), goals per game, first (2.33), total goals, first (7), total assists, tied for seventh (1), shots per game, fourth (4.33), shots on goal per game, tied for second (3.00), game winning goals per game, tied for third (0.33)
Quotable
“It’s just a matter of setting that (winning) mindset and for us to continue to do the things that have made us successful in the past and will make us successful in the future. That’s just the work ethic and the team working together on and off the field. It’s just the little things that really put us over the hump.”
-Head coach Greg Henson on the win over York College
“It was really exciting. I’m not usually a goal scorer. I usually don’t play forward. I’ve had more opportunities to score.”
-Sophomore Esther Soenksen on her four goals against York College
Scouting the No. 6 Benedictine Ravens
The No. 6 Ravens of Benedictine come into Saturday’s match with an unbeaten record of 5-0, outscoring its opponents, 21-5. Individually, Ashley Chandler is leading the Ravens with six goals so far this season while the remaining 15 goals are spread out amongst nine other players. As a team, Benedictine has recorded 109 shots, 62 on goal. The Ravens are led by head coach Lincoln Roblee who is in his 11th season at Benedictine. Roblee is assisted by Ashley Holland, Sally Feldewert and Anna Hagenkord.
Bulldogs in the rankings
For the second time in program history, the Concordia University women’s soccer team has been ranked in the NAIA’s top 25. Announced on Tuesday, Aug. 18, the poll listed the Bulldogs at No. 21 which is the highest-ever ranking for the program. The GPAC preseason poll was also announced Tuesday, Aug. 18 where the Bulldogs found themselves ranked second behind regular-season champion Hastings. This placing was the highest preseason ranking dating back to 2006.
Up next on the pitch
The Concordia women’s soccer team will return to action Tuesday, Sept. 15 at Bulldog Stadium. The Bulldogs will take on York College for the second time this season. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.