CRETE, Neb. – The two GPAC teams went back and forth, but the Bulldogs pulled out a 2-1 road win against conference rival Doane on Wednesday night (Oct. 16). Kierstynn Garner collected her 15th career game winning goal to deny an improved Tigers program and seal another comeback victory at Papik Field. CUNE extends its win streak to 12 over the in-state foe Doane.
Head Coach Nick Smith’s squad has won four consecutive games earning a 4-3 GPAC record and a 7-5-1 overall showing this season.
“We’re maturing,” said Coach Smith. “We are just a team right now that has the belief that the result is going to be there for us to go get. Early on in the season, we had early moments that we allowed to define games. The message point all season has been, we have to be able to recover. We have to be able to get back up when you get knocked off. So, three times in a row now we have conceded the first goal and three times in a row we have been able to come back and earn wins.”
Trying to find space in a high press, Hannah Kile hit a long ball from the defensive third to a streaking Garner. The forward, out of Kearney, Neb., raced past her defender and chipped it over the keeper for the go ahead goal. With the second half score, Garner has 38 career goals tying Jessica Skerston (2014-2016) for 5th in program history.
Doane punched first in a dominating first half outshooting Concordia 6-2 and barely yielded entry into their defensive third. The Tigers got ahead in the 15th minute and landed the first blow via a Celeste Galvan goal.
The Bulldogs found their bearings and responded late in the first frame. After a ball was punched out of the box by a Tiger defender, Senna McMullen tagged it back in for a Savannah Andrews equalizer. The Gretna product vaulted in her second header in two games and the 20th goal of her career. The Olathe, Kan., native McMullen notched her first point since her freshman year as a Bulldog.
The defense had to deal with 11 total shots by Doane but made it difficult in the second half to get off a decent shot. Kile, Avery Black, Taylor Slaymaker and McMullen helped limit shots on goal and give the visitors a 3-2 slight edge in the final 45 minutes. Goalkeeper Angie Banks tied her career high (six) in saves once more and four were in the strenuous first half.
The Tigers (5-7-3, 3-2-3 GPAC) were led by Galvan with the lone goal and assisted by McKenna Rathbun. The home team was led by four different players with two shots apiece. Doane will travel to Orange City on Saturday to face Northwestern.
Concordia (7-5-1, 4-3 GPAC) will be back on the road to make its longest trip of the conference slate versus Waldorf (0-13, 0-7 GPAC) on Saturday night. First whistle is set for 5:30 p.m. CT at Bolstorff Field in Forest City, Iowa. The Bulldogs edged out the Warriors in a 2-1 battle at Bulldog Stadium last season.