Second half confidence seizes streak record; Dawgs move to semifinals

By Chase Benton on Nov. 2, 2024 in Women's Soccer

SEWARD, Neb. – Second-seeded Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer made history against No. 7 seed College of Saint Mary in the Saturday night 3-0 shutout. The Bulldogs won their ninth game in a row reaching bigger heights with the new program record in the GPAC tournament quarterfinal match at Bulldog Stadium. Head Coach Nick Smith’s squad seized their biggest win to date and are on a roll having not seen a loss since September.

With the tournament win, Concordia has reached the semifinals for the 10th time in program’s existence. CUNE has totaled a 12-5-1 overall record.

“The main talking point at halftime was having confidence in who we are,” said Coach Smith. “CSM came with a game plan to put us under pressure on our back group and sixes. In the first half, we didn’t really settle well. At halftime, we made some adjustments and moved some players and that helped us. We started the next half really well and it carried into the full 45. This is nine wins in a row and it sets the outright record for us. That was a talking point before the game was, we had the opportunity to make some history today. We have big plans and to do that we have to make sure we are ready for the next game.”

Only one shot combined was even kicked in the entire first half of play. The home team fired their first shot in the 58th minute and scored just a minute later on a set piece. Kierstynn Garner shelled out a bullet and Mirarosa Gyllenswan punched in the go-ahead game winning goal. Gyllenswan, a Jamestown transfer, scored her second career conference quarterfinal goal but this time in the Bulldog Blue. The tenacious midfielder won the ball many times throughout the game, not afraid of contact but always seeking to go blow for blow with anyone in the GPAC.

Gyllenswan said, “It just defines us as a team even more. It shows the adversity we overcame at the beginning of the season. Being 0-3, we had something to prove, and we are here to prove it. It showed with our nine wins, and we want to win the tournament.”

Savannah Andrews and Garner linked up once again as the Gretna, Neb., native used her boot, instead of her head, to score only 11 minutes after the first. As the minutes passed, the Dawgs' confidence grew, and Garner didn’t want to be left out of the scoring party. Just off the bench, Sierra McElhannon put the ball on a rope to a sprinting KG (Garner) and she finished with a goal in the last seven games.  

In the first frame, a massive moment came for the Flames as a cross was punched in front of the Concordia goal for an opposing player to score. Niah Kirchner moved with cheetah-like quickness to force the CSM potential goal scorer to over-kick the ball past the goal.

Angela Banks (four saves) and the defense continue to team up to stack shutouts and have five consecutive in the past five contests. When the offense struggled in the first half, Taylor Slaymaker and Triniti Rowe provided stability to the defense, which was under constant pressure from the aggressive Flames.

Concordia (12-5-1) will square up to face No. 3 seed Dordt (12-4-1) in the GPAC semifinals on Thursday (Nov. 7). First kick is set for 7 p.m. CT inside Bulldog Stadium. in the regular season match, the Bulldogs lost a heartbreaker (3-2) in the final seconds to the Defenders in Sioux Center.