SEWARD, Neb. – For the sixth time in school history, the Concordia University women’s soccer program has moved into the NAIA Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. Wins over No. 18 Midland and No. 20 Hastings were part of a stretch run that clinched the program’s first-ever outright conference regular-season title and earned some national street cred. In the poll released on Tuesday (Oct. 31), head coach Greg Henson’s squad checked in at No. 22.
The Bulldogs ended last season listed among “others receiving votes” after capturing their second GPAC tournament title in three seasons. Concordia began receiving votes again last week. Its GPAC regular-season title-clinching win over Hastings then pushed it over the top.
All of the program’s national rankings have come during Henson’s tenure. After topping then No. 20 Hastings in the 2014 GPAC championship game, the Bulldogs rose to No. 24 in the national poll, marking the program’s first-ever appearance inside the top 25. On the heels of that title, the 2015 squad garnered national rankings in each of the season’s first four polls. The high-water mark for the program is the No. 16 rating it received in September of 2015.
The top-seeded Bulldogs (13-2-3, 9-0-1 GPAC) are getting set to host eighth-seeded Morningside (8-9, 4-6 GPAC) at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the GPAC tournament quarterfinals. The winner will play again next Tuesday (Nov. 7) in the semifinals.
All-time national rankings
2017
Oct. 31 – 22nd
2015
Oct. 6 – 23rd
Sept. 29 – 18th
Sept. 22 – 16th
Aug. 18 – 21st
2014
Nov. 16 – 24th