SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A complete masterclass of all 11 working together was the Bulldogs without possession on Saturday (Oct. 3). Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer clamped down on two of the conference’s top goal scorers and nullified any quality Charger builds to take control from start to finish in the 2-0 shutout. CUNE’s leading goal scorer Guadalupe Sanchez notched her first brace of the season.
The white-hot Dawgs roll to an unbeaten eight in a row with a 6-2-2 overall record and an undefeated GPAC 5-0 start.
“Top to bottom, it was a great performance,” Head Coach Jason Weides said. “Everyone who came on really contributed in a meaningful way. Our sideline is a 12th person for us. We feel like we really have an advantage in that the team is supporting the team. We're not getting shutouts because of one person or one group. We want to be elite in that area, and I think we're taking strides toward it. Everyone is ready to give whatever they're asked, whatever role it is for that day. Our team is ready, and it's been really fun to see.”
The visiting Bulldogs peppered the Briar Cliff goal with a 10-2 shot advantage with dominant ball control but came away empty in the opening 45 minutes.
Weides continued, “at halftime, the message was just to keep going. We're in a tough game against a good team, and every moment counts. We said, ‘Let's go out there and do the same thing, but we just have to be a little bit better.”
Just out of the locker rooms, the Bulldogs kept their first half form. Kiana Perez ran past her defender on the near side and sent in a cross, passed via Molli Kalsbeck, Kiana Rios fired a blocked shot. The ricochet gave Sanchez a chance and she slotted home the eventual game winner.
With a 1-0 lead and under 10 minutes to play, Abby Haynes rocketed a cross to Sanchez. The Grand Island, Neb., native hammered the shot in the back of the net for her sixth goal in 2026. She is now in the top-5 in conference goals scored.
The press and counterpress of all 11 made life difficult for Briar Cliff as the visitors forced the home Chargers to make an avalanche of mistakes on the ball. Rios, Perez, and Addie Snyder gobbled up any loose ball and kicked the extra possessions towards the forwards for a 19-7 (13-3 SOG) shot advantage.
The lead shot takers were Sanchez (five), Haynes (four), Snyder (two) and Rios (two) with 10 total players taking their turn at goal.
A collective defense-to-offense strategy led to seven shots for the Bulldogs before Briar Cliff had their first in the 25th minute. The shifting of the back line has seemed to be more solidified with Charli Preister, Evie Keller, Avery Black and Triniti Rowe. Keeper Aaliyah Matthews reached her fourth shutout of the season with three saves.
A clash of undefeated conference teams is set for Wednesday (Oct. 7) as Concordia (6-2-2, 5-0 GPAC) will travel to Mount Marty (7-0-3, 5-0 GPAC) in the high-stakes matchup. The showdown is set for 5 p.m. CT in Yankton.