Sixth shutout allows Bulldogs to break school record for best 10-game start

By Taylor Mueller, Athletic Communications Assistant

SEWARD, Neb. – Despite a struggle to convert on a bevy of chances, the Concordia University women’s soccer team won for the seventh time in its last eight games, earning a 2-0 win over York College on Wednesday night to move to to 8-2, 2-0 GPAC. The victory earned Concordia its best 10-game start in school history.

Bulldog sophomore goa keeper Chrissy Lind and junior goalkeeper Taylor Wolf had a relatively tranquil night, as they hardly had to touch the ball. With York packing in tight on the defensive end, Concordia was on the attack all night. The team’s sixth shutout of the season topped the previous program record of five shutouts in a single season, formerly held by the 1997 Concordia squad.

York’s strategy seemed to work in the first half, as the score remained scoreless despite Concordia getting off 20 first half shots.

“At halftime, we just talked about maintaining that composure, not getting panicked because the goal didn’t come and just doing what we were doing early as far as keeping possession and trying to get in behind them,” head coach Greg Henson said. “I thought we did a nice job of that.”

Finally, in the 55th minute, freshman Jessica Skerston knocked in her 11th goal of the season thanks to an assist from senior Katrina Muther to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage. Then in the 73rd minute, freshman Esther Soenksen scored her fourth goal of the season to seal the deal. By the end of the day, the Bulldogs had drilled off a total of 44 shots.

“It took us a little while to get that goal, but one of the things we wanted to focus on was keeping the ball, keeping possession and playing smart and playing simple and I thought we did a good job of that,” Greg Henson said. “We created a bunch of chances in the first half and their goalkeeper did a nice job to keep the score level at zero.

“Overall, tonight was just a good, collective team effort,” Henson said. “York did things that they thought were going to help them be successful. They played good defensively as a team and got in back behind the ball and got numbers behind the ball and made things difficult for us.”

Having scored at least once in nine of 10 games, Skerston remains second on the conference leaderboard in goals. Just a freshman, Skerston made the transition to the collegiate level sound simple.

“I just kind of go out and play,” Skerston said. “I didn’t really feel an adjustment. I just play hard and go for it.”

Despite the strong start and record setting performances, Henson is maintaining an even keel, and remaining focused on the work yet to be done.

“It’s nice to get those records, but we have some goals that we set for ourselves this season and in the offseason last year that we’re looking to obtain,” Henson said. “The nonconference schedule is set up to make us successful as we get into the heart of the GPAC schedule now. I think we’re in a good place right now, but we still have some learning to do and some areas to improve upon. ”

The Bulldogs will be on the road to take on Dordt at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Sioux Center, Iowa.

“We’ve got a tough match with Dordt on the road on Saturday,” Henson said. “That’s all the farther we’re looking ahead right now to make sure that we come out of this weekend, we’re looking to go up there and get three points and to put us in a better position for the conference standings.”