No. 21 Bulldogs outshine Panthers on the pitch

SEWARD, Neb. – The No. 21 Concordia Bulldog women’s soccer team defeated the York Panthers, 5-1 at Bulldog Stadium, Tuesday, September 15. The ‘Dogs were able to penetrate York’s defensive attempts by outshooting the Panthers, 34-3. Concordia’s defense stood a firmer ground, allowing just one shot on goal which was the lone goal for the Panthers.

Head coach Greg Henson said on the win, “It’s always difficult to beat the same team twice in a season. And York came out to play…They did a great job tonight, they came in with a game plan and executed and made life difficult for us. Playing them twice in two weeks, we expected them to come out and give us a game. I think they’re much improved over two weeks.”

Madison Hawkins scored on a cross from Megan Brunssen on the right side for her first goal of the season. The goal came from inside the box at the 30:34 mark. York tied the game up with their first goal of the season on a score from Caitlin Nipe. The Bulldogs were determined not to go into the break with an even score and accomplished that goal with Esther Soenksen. The Lincoln native scored her eighth goal of the season with eight seconds left in the first stanza on a pass from Jessica Skerston.

Coming out of the break, up 2-1, Concordia looked for some security goals and found them early six minutes into the second half. Soenksen was on the assisting side of the goal this time, passing the ball in to Kaylee Brown who scored from the close right side of the box. Then, scoring her ninth goal of the season and sixth against York College this year, Soenksen found the back of the net with 24 minutes left in the match, assisted by Maria Deeter. For the final goal of the game, Leah Shohat headed the ball in off a corner from Brunssen to seal the 5-1 victory.

“I was supposed to pick up anything in the back and the ball game over their heads and I headed it in…It’s exciting,” said Shohat on her first goal of the season.

In her first start this season, Keeper Elyse Muhle played all 90 minutes and allowed one goal. The Bulldog back line helped keep the Panthers’ scoring opportunities low allowing just three shots. In at keeper for York was Jenna Shipley who also played all 90 minutes and tallied nine saves.

The win gives No. 21 Concordia an improved record of 4-1 while the York Panthers fall to 0-8 on the season. Concordia will hit the road for a trip to Colorado this upcoming weekend to take on Sterling College and Johnson & Wales University Sept. 19-20.