SEWARD, Neb. – It’s now time to turn the page to the postseason for Concordia University Women’s Soccer. The Bulldogs hope that a challenging run of nonconference spring has adequately prepared them for a GPAC tournament run. As the No. 3 seed, Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad will host sixth-seeded Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday night in the GPAC quarterfinals.
GPAC Quarterfinal Game Info
Concordia (9-6-1, 9-2-1) vs. Dakota Wesleyan (9-7, 7-5)
Saturday, April 3 | 7 p.m. CT
Bulldog Stadium | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network (fee required)
Commentator: Frank Greene
Tickets: https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets (also sold on site)
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12; only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s will be admitted free of charge.
Fan policy: Bulldog Stadium will welcome fans for Saturday’s game (up to 75 percent capacity). Per GPAC policy, fans are required to wear face coverings and are encouraged to distance themselves from other family groups.
By the numbers
· In action this spring, Concordia has dropped all three outings by a margin of one goal. The Bulldogs fell on the road to Southwestern College (Kan.), 1-0 (2 OT), and Benedictine College (Kan.), 1-0, and surrendered a home decision to Grand View University (Iowa), 2-1 (2 OT). Benedictine continues to receive votes in the NAIA national poll. The Bulldogs went 0-4 outside of conference play this season. They also were beaten in overtime, 1-0, by Bellevue University in the fall.
· Back in the fall, Concordia finished the GPAC regular-season slate in strong fashion. The Bulldogs went 6-0-1 over the final seven contests of the conference regular season, closing that stretch with a 1-0 victory over GPAC champion Briar Cliff (now ranked 18th in the NAIA). The seven-game unbeaten streak also included wins over Jamestown, College of Saint Mary, Hastings, Doane and Presentation.
· A look at the scores shows Concordia has struggled to find the back of the net this spring. On the year, Mikeila Martinez paces the Bulldogs with seven goals. Meanwhile, Jaiden Beecher has scored four goals and Cheyenne Smith has contributed three. Senior Michaela Twito got on the board with her first goal of the season by capitalizing on a header in the box (off a corner from Martinez).
· The end of a sparkling career for goalkeeper Lindsey Carley is nearing. In 70 career collegiate games, the Urbandale, Iowa, native has totaled 276 saves and 22 shutouts and owns a save percentage of .807 and goals against average of 0.926. Carley ranks in the top two of nearly every key goalkeeper statistic in the history of the program. She is the all-time leader in goals against average, just in front of Chrissy Lind (0.93).
· Concordia will have a chance to avenge one of its two GPAC regular season losses on Saturday. On Oct. 3, 2020, the Tigers came to Seward and emerged with a 1-0 victory. Alondra Partida scored the game’s only goal.
The opponent
In two official games this spring, Dakota Wesleyan has lost to Tabor College (Kan.), 1-0, and to Kansas Wesleyan University, 2-0. The Tigers have improved significantly after going 2-9-1 in GPAC play in 2019. Dakota Wesleyan has been playing this spring without top goal scorer Alyssa Weidler, who has 11 goals on the season. In 16 games this season, the Tigers have outscored their opponents by a combined total of 32-21.
GPAC Semifinals
The Concordia/Dakota Wesleyan winner will advance to the GPAC semifinals and play either second-seeded Morningside or seventh-seeded Midland on April 6. The highest seeds get the honor of hosting in each round. The championship game will be played on Friday, April 9.