Garner and the Dawgs scald Warriors in season finale

By Chase Benton on Oct. 31, 2024 in Women's Soccer

SEWARD, Neb. – Kierstynn Garner and the seething Bulldogs didn’t take long to scald Midland in a 6-0 dominant victory at a misty Bulldog Stadium on Wednesday night (Oct. 30). The Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer offense sunk their teeth in early scoring two in the first seven minutes and the defense pitched its fourth straight shutout. Kierstynn Garner blasted the Warriors' with four goals, including a hat trick in the first frame.

The Bulldogs finish the regular season on an eight game win streak to tie the program record set in 2016. CUNE has a record of 11-5-1 overall and 8-3 in the conference to seal second place in the regular season.

“It’s really about ball movement for us,” said Head Coach Nick Smith. “We had a lot of new faces come in this year. It was always going to take some time to figure out how to play with each other. We have had a huge evolvement as a team these past couple of weeks. That is manifesting itself into chance creation. We have some players who are executing right now, so we are scoring some good goals.”

Needing a win to guarantee runner up in the GPAC, Garner set the high end pace finishing a score with less than two minutes off the clock. The Kearney, Neb., forward followed with three more (7’, 35’, 66’) and the last registered the 46th goal of her career.

Once the defense got the ball in the midfield, Niah Kirchner, Elena Ruiz, and Mirarosa Gyllenswan made multiple passes connecting with each other and pushed the ball up the field for dangerous shots. Captain Angela Banks and vice captain Taylor Slaymaker ran the back end, while only allowing five shots on goal. With many names like Avery Black, Sadie Mares, Hannah Kile and Triniti Rowe “figuring out how to play with each other”, the growing Dawgs have been pivotal in the combined 24-0 routes over their last four conquered.

Gyllenswan and Niah Kirchner tacked on goals, running away from their opponents in the second half. Kirchner, a junior out of Omaha, Neb., smacked a “25-yard banger”, called over the Concordia Sports Network by play by play announcer Isaiah Shaddick. The Millard West product marked her first goal of the season and the fifth of her career, while Gyllenswan notched her fourth assist in 2024.

Coach Smith said, “Both of them have the potential to score goals. It's about getting in the right position and when you do, go execute. Niah’s was fantastic from 25 yards out and picked out the top corner. Rosie’s (Gyllenswan) was through consistent work. Getting herself into the right spot and the ball fell to her and she was savvy enough to get her goal too.”

Midland (4-4-3, 4-4-3 GPAC) was paced by NaTaija Blaylock with five shots. The No. 8 seed Warriors will look to rebound in the GPAC tournament quarterfinals versus No. 1 seed Hastings on Saturday.

The Bulldogs (11-5-1, 8-3 GPAC) have earned the No. 2 seed and will host No. 7 College of Saint Mary (6-8-4, 5-4-2 GPAC) on Saturday night. First kick Is set for 7 p.m. CT inside Bulldog Stadium. CUNE defeated CSM, 4-0, only three games ago in Omaha.