SEWARD, Neb. – Following a weekend trip to Kansas City to kick off the 2016 season, the Concordia University women’s soccer team now gets set for its home debut. The Bulldogs (0-1-1) will host York College (0-1) at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday (Aug. 31) before turning around to welcome Graceland University (0-0) to Bulldog Stadium for another 5:30 p.m. start on Saturday.
Head coach Greg Henson’s squad is aiming for win No. 1 on the year on the heels of a 2-0 loss at Avila University (Aug. 26) and a 2-2, double overtime draw at MidAmerica Nazarene University (Aug. 27) this past weekend. Concordia is returning home, where it has gone 22-8-1 in the prior three seasons under Henson’s direction.
Junior Esther Soenksen registered the team’s first goal of 2016 – and the 17th of her career – in the 82nd minute of the comeback at MidAmerica Nazarene. Jeannelle Condame’s 84th-minute goal then forced overtime in the contest played in Olathe, Kan. A junior defender, Condame has notched eight goals over 44 games at Concordia.
The Bulldogs will attempt to get back to being the stifling defensive group from 2015 that allowed opponents to score more than one goal on just three occasions. A year ago they topped the conference in fewest goals allowed per game (0.76). Concordia’s 16 total goals allowed on the year broke the program record for fewest surrendered in a season.
York, which fell to Hastings in its season opener, went 1-17 overall in 2015. Graceland, a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference, is set to open its season on Wednesday (Aug. 31) at Park University. Graceland posted a record of 7-11 last season.
Henson (37-19-9) remains one win shy of equaling Bill Schranz for the most coaching victories in the history of Concordia women’s soccer, which played its first season of varsity competition in 1996. Henson owns the best winning percentage of any coach in program annals.
Both of this week’s games will be shown live on the Concordia Sports Network.