Women’s soccer hosts Dakota Wesleyan in GPAC semifinals

SEWARD, Neb. – For the first time in program history, the Concordia University women’s soccer program has earned the right to host in the semifinals of the GPAC tournament. Sixth-seeded Dakota Wesleyan (9-9-1), which upset third-seeded Midland on Tuesday, will serve as the opponent for a game set to kick off at 5 p.m. from Bulldog Stadium.

The game can be seen live online via the Concordia Sports Network.

Head coach Greg Henson’s squad reached the semifinals by topping Doane, 2-1, on Tuesday. Concordia got a goal apiece from Emmalynn Rodriguez (second) and Jessica Skerston (15th) and came within an eyelash of shutting out the Tigers.

The opportunity to host in the semifinals (first time ever) is just another in a long line of accomplishments for a Bulldog squad that has a school record 13 wins on the year.

“We wanted to finish in the top four. That was our No. 1 goal for the season,” Henson said. “Once we got there we wanted to get as high of a seed as possible to give us the opportunity to host in more than one round. It’s great to be here (in this position).”

Saturday’s game is a rematch of the contest held just a week earlier in Seward. In what was the regular-season finale for both teams, Concordia dominated possession (32-3 advantage in shots) and won 2-0 on the strength of a goal each from Jeannelle Condame and Melissa Stine.

The Tigers have crashed the semifinals after stealing a win at Midland. Dakota Wesleyan won in overtime on when Alex Sterling scored her second goal of the game. Sterling and the Tigers got the victory despite being outshot 23-6.

Dakota Wesleyan, behind top goal scorer Megan Johnson, ranks as the GPAC’s second most prolific offensive team. The Bulldogs have played the top-three ranked goal-scoring teams in the conference over their last three games and held them to a combined two goals.

The winner between Concordia and Dakota Wesleyan will advance to the GPAC championship to play either top-seeded Hastings (15-3-1) or fourth-seeded Briar Cliff (12-3-3).

Concordia (13-2-4)
Goals scored per game: 2.0 (T-4th in GPAC)
Goals allowed per game: 0.79 (3rd in GPAC)
Individual leaders
Goals: Jessica Skerston – 15
Assists: Melissa Stine – 5
Shots: Jessica Skerston – 75
Shots on goal: Jessica Skerston – 37
Goalkeeper: Chrissy Lind – .784 goals against average, .826 save %, 71 saves, 8 shutouts

Dakota Wesleyan (9-9-1)
Goals scored per game: 2.21 (2nd in GPAC)
Goals allowed per game: 2.32 (9th in GPAC)
Individual leaders
Goals: Megan Johnson – 23
Assists: Maranda Ehrenfried – 7
Shots: Megan Johnson – 58
Shots on goal: Megan Johnson – 37
Goalkeeper: Cici Schneider – 2.49 goals against average, .774 save %, 130 saves, one shutout