SEWARD, Neb. – Two challenging nonconference contests make up this week’s slate for the Concordia University women’s soccer team, which remains undefeated following a weekend road trip to the Windy City. Upcoming games against Bellevue University and Graceland University are rematches from games played last fall. Fifth-year head coach Greg Henson’s squad enters the week at 3-0-1 overall.
This week’s schedule
Wednesday, Sept. 6 vs. Bellevue (1-2), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 9 at Graceland (3-0-1), 4:30 p.m.
Other than the 0-0 draw with NCAA Division III Concordia University, Wisconsin on Sept. 2, the Bulldogs have continued a dominant run that dates back to last season. So far in 2017, CUNE has outscored its opponents by a combined total of 14-2. Over the past 13 games, the Bulldogs own a record of 11-1-1 and have outnumbered their foes 43-7 during that stretch. Concordia has already had nine unique goal scorers this fall. Junior Maria Deeter leads the way with four goals and three assists.
In two weeks of GPAC awards, the Bulldogs have claimed two honors. A week after Deeter earned GPAC offensive accolades, sophomore Lindsey Carley picked the first recognition of her career by being named the conference defensive player of the week. Carley has shared time at keeper with fellow sophomore Jessica Knedler. The results have been positive so far. Carley and Knedler have combined to make 19 saves and both own an identical goals against average of 0.5. An impressive overall team effort has helped Concordia outshoot opponents, 89-38.
Don’t let Bellevue’s 1-2 record mislead you. Fourteenth-year head coach Andy Nicolarsen entered this season with a career record of 171-66-17 (.707). In 2015, Concordia defeated the Bruins for just the second time in a rivalry that has now reached 10 meetings since 2005. Each of the last four games between the two teams have decided by just a single goal. Bellevue has been a tough luck team so far having outshot its opponents 60-32 but having been outscored 7-2.
Graceland will provide a good road test for Henson’s squad. The Yellowjackets pushed the Bulldogs last season in a 1-0 Concordia victory. To this point, Graceland owns wins over Robert Morris University, Simpson College and Park University. Megan Kimrey paces the Yellowjackets with four goals. They have outscored opponents by a combined total of 15-5.
Wednesday’s game will be shown live via the Concordia Sports Network. Graceland will have live stats for Saturday’s contest. Find them HERE.
Two more non-league games are coming up next week when the Bulldogs travel to Waldorf University (Sept. 13) and then host No. 21 Kansas Wesleyan University (Sept. 16).