2009 - Women's Soccer schedule/results

7-10-2 Overall, 6-5 GPAC - Season Statistics

AUGUST
Aug. 22	Alumni Game	Seward, Neb.
Aug. 27	York College	York, Neb.	W 5-0
Aug. 29	Benedictine College	Atchison, Kan.	L 0-2
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 1	Sterling College	Sterling, Kan.	W 4-3 OT
Sept. 5	McPherson College	Seward, Neb.	T 1-1
Sept. 9	Kansas Wesleyan University	Salina, Kan.	T 1-1
Sept. 12	College of St. Mary	Omaha, Neb.	L 1-2
Sept. 16	Dana College*	Blair, Neb.	L 0-3
Sept. 19	Morningside College*	Seward, Neb.	W 3-2
Sept. 22	Doane College*	Seward, Neb.	L 0-2
Sept. 26	Dordt College*	Sioux Center, Iowa	L 0-3
OCTOBER
Oct. 3	Mount Marty College*	Seward, Neb.	W 6-1
Oct. 6	#20 Hastings College*	Seward, Neb.	W 2-0
Oct. 10	Briar Cliff University*	Sioux City, Iowa	W 4-2
Oct. 14	Midland Lutheran*	Seward, Neb.	L 0-1
Oct. 17	Northwestern College*	Orange City, Iowa	L 1-2
Oct. 21	Nebraska Wesleyan*	Lincoln, Neb.	W 3-0
Oct. 24	Dakota Wesleyan*	Seward, Neb.	L 1-3
Oct. 31	University of Sioux Falls*	Sioux Falls, S.D.	L 0-1
NOVEMBER
GPAC Tournament:
Nov. 5	Vs. Dakota Wesleyan	Mitchell, S.D.	L 0-1

*Great Plains Athletic Conference Games

All Home Games in BOLD

2009 - Women's Soccer roster

No.

Name

Pos.

Ht.

Yr.

Hometown

Previous School

Ariel Harris

5-3

So.

Valley Center, Calif.

Valley Center

Kali Lane

5-4

Fr.

Omaha, Neb.

Millard South

Sarah Hoffmann

5-6

Jr.

Mesa, Ariz.

Mountain View

Carolyn Chrzan

5-9

Jr.

Burbank, Calif.

Burbank

Allison Chrismer

5-5

Sr.

St. Peters, Mo.

Lutheran

Mia Pauluhn

5-8

So.

St. Louis, Mo.

Lutheran North

Mallorie Blanck

5-3

So.

Manhattan, Kan.

Manhattan

Allyson Timmerman

5-6

So.

San Diego, Calif.

University of Wisconsin

Molly Hein

5-1

Jr.

Lincoln, Neb.

Lincoln Lutheran

Chelsey Creedon (RS)

M/D

5-7

So.

Eldrige, Iowa

North Scott

Molly Millard

5-6

Jr.

Lincoln, Neb.

Lincoln Lutheran

Kelsie Elder

M/D

5-4

Fr.

Denver, Colo.

Legacy

Kaela Geyer

M/F

5-4

So.

St. Louis, Mo.

Home school

Jackie Ford

5-5

Fr.

Omaha, Neb.

Marian

Annika Norz

5-4

Sr.

De Pere, Wisc.

N.E.W. Lutheran

Amanda Emerson

M/F

5-4

Fr.

Hickman, Neb.

Norris

Shelley Hermann

5-8

Sr.

Lincoln, Neb.

Lincoln Southwest

Kyleah Bowder

5-7

Fr.

Lincoln, Neb.

Lincoln Northeast

Hannah Denk

5-4

Jr.

Independence, Mo.

Lutheran

Molly Humlicek

M/F

5-11

So.

Lincoln, Neb.

Lincoln Lutheran

Courtney Cale

5-6

Fr.

Sioux City, Iowa

Sioux City North

Shelby Hughes

5-9

Fr.

Columbus, Neb.

Columbus

2009 Coaching staff

Head coach: Rob Giesbrecht

Concordia cruises past York College

27 AUG 2009

Concordia University 5, York College 0 (view stats)

The Concordia women’s soccer team blanked York College 5-0 Thursday afternoon in York. The Bulldogs took a 4-0 lead into the halftime break. Concordia dominated play with 22 shots in the game compared to three for the Panthers.

Concordia head coach Rob Giesbrecht was impressed with the performance of his team in the opening game of the season. “This was a great way to start the year,” said Giesbrecht. “We really set the tone early, played a lot of people and were able to cruise to the win.”

Early in the first half, sophomore Molly Humlicek scored the opening goal of the game for the Bulldogs off an assist by Amanda Emerson. Kelsie Elder added a goal at the 23:08 mark to increase the lead to 2-0. Molly Hein followed with a header for a goal at the 16:51 mark with the assist by Carolyn Chrzan. Less than three minutes later, Jackie Ford gave Concordia a 4-0 lead with a goal off an assist by Humlicek. Mallorie Blanck closed out the scoring with a goal in the second half to give the Bulldogs the 5-0 win.

Amanda Emerson had four shots to lead Concordia. Kelsie Elder, Annika Norz and Mallorie Blanck added three shots, and Ariel Harris made three saves to earn the win in goal for the Bulldogs.

Bulldogs suffer 2-0 setback to No. 19 Benedictine

29 AUG 2009

Concordia University 0, Benedictine College 2 (view stats)

Benedictine College, ranked No. 19 in the preseason, earned a 2-0 win over Concordia in women’s soccer on Saturday evening in Atchison, Kan. Benedictine moved to 1-0 on the season with the win, while Concordia slipped to 1-1 on the year with the loss.

Despite the loss, Concordia head coach Rob Giesbrecht came away impressed with the effort of his team. “Benedictine is one of the best teams in the area, but our girls never quit,” said Giesbrecht. “We gave great effort throughout the game, and I’m very excited about our progress.”

The game remained scoreless for most of the first half. It wasn’t until the 38th minute when Courtney Danze scored to give the Ravens a 1-0 lead, and Kelsey Mueller added a goal off of a corner kick with less than three minutes later for Benedictine.

Ariel Harris had a solid effort in goal for Concordia. She totaled 11 saves for the day. Kali Lane led Concordia with two shots in the loss.

Concordia returns to action with a road game at Sterling College on Sept. 1. The first home game for the Bulldogs will be Sept. 5 when they host McPherson College in a 5 p.m. contest at Bulldog Stadium.

Ford leads Concordia to 4-3 win over Sterling College

1 SEP 2009

Concordia University 4, Sterling College 3 (view stats)

Concordia’s Jackie Ford scored in the 10th minute of overtime to lead the Bulldogs to a 4-3 win over Sterling College on Tuesday afternoon. The Bulldogs improved to 2-1 on the season with the win.

Molly Humlicek, Carolyn Chrzan and Jackie Ford scored goals in the first half for the Bulldogs, who took a 3-2 lead into halftime. Humlicek scored in the 12th minute off an assist by Chrzan. Chrzan scored in the 29th minute, and Ford’s goal was in the 39th minute off an assist by Sarah Hoffmann.

Sterling College rallied in the second half to tie the score and send the game to overtime. However, Ford’s second goal of the game gave the Bulldogs the exciting 4-3 win. Chrzan had her second assist of the game on Ford’s game-winning goal.

Concordia head coach Rob Giesbrecht commented on the ups and downs of the contest. “The girls really persevered again today,” said Giesbrecht. “We were sluggish at the start of the game, and we didn’t play well in the first half. We played much better in the second half, and we got more and more good chances as the game went on.”

Concordia returns home to host McPherson College on Saturday. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.

Concordia ties with McPherson College 1-1

5 SEP 2009

Concordia University 1, McPherson College 1 (view stats)

The Bulldogs of Concordia University played to a 1-1 tie with the McPherson College Bulldogs on Saturday evening in Seward. Concordia moved to 2-1-1 on the year, while McPherson’s record sits at 0-0-1.

Each team had chances to get on the board throughout the match, but the score remained 0-0 until late in the second half. McPherson College jumped on top with an unassisted goal by Amanda Aragon in the 80th minute. Just over a minute later, Concordia tied the game at 1-1 on the second goal of the season by Carolyn Chrzan. The game went to two overtime sessions, but neither team managed to find the net.

Concordia head coach Rob Giesbrecht was pleased with the response from his team. “I was relatively pleased with how we played,” said Giesbrecht. “We broke down a few times and showed that we still have some growth ahead of us. But, we responded well to getting scored on late and were able get the equalizer.”

Concordia had a 14-7 advantage in shots and a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks in the game. Ariel Harris made two saves and allowed the one goal in net for Concordia. Coach Giesbrecht commented on some missed opportunities, but hopes to build on the performance by his team. “Had we executed better around the goal, we probably would have had a better result,” remarked Giesbrecht. “McPherson is a quality team, and they gave us a good test. I hope we can learn from this and move forward.”

Concordia travels to Kansas Wesleyan on Sept. 9 and visits the College of St. Mary on Sept. 12.

Concordia plays to 1-1 tie with Kansas Wesleyan

9 SEP 2009

Concordia University 1, Kansas Wesleyan 1 (view stats)

The Concordia women’s soccer team tied with Kansas Wesleyan 1-1 on Wednesday evening. The Bulldogs are now 2-1-2 on the year. Kansas Wesleyan is 2-1-1 on the season.

Carolyn Chrzan scored her third goal of the season to give the Bulldogs the 1-0 lead in the second half off an assist by Hannah Denk. With around 15 minutes remaining in the game, Kansas Wesleyan tied the score at 1-1 with an unassisted goal by Brittnie Bernardino.

Concordia couldn’t punch in a game-winner in the overtime periods, and the Bulldogs settled for the 1-1 tie. Shelby Hughes had a solid game in goal for the Bulldogs. Hughes had 15 saves in the game and made several key saves down the stretch to keep the game tied.

Head coach Rob Giesbrecht was pleased with his team’s effort against another solid team. “This is a very positive result for our program,” said Giesbrecht. “This type of effort shows how far we’ve come.”

Concordia travels to Omaha to face the College of St. Mary on Sept. 12 and then opens GPAC play at Dana College on Sept. 16. With the conference season right around the corner, coach Giesbrecht is ready to see what his team can do. “We’ve shown that we can play with some of the best teams in this region,” commented Giesbrecht. “We are very excited about the potential of this team.”

Concordia falls at College of St. Mary 2-1

12 SEP 2009

Concordia University 1, College of St. Mary 2 (view stats)

Concordia was defeated by the College of St. Mary by the score of 2-1 in women’s soccer on Saturday afternoon in Omaha. The Flames improved to 4-2-1 on the year with the win, and the Bulldogs dropped to 2-2-2 on the year with the loss.

The Flames jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead with a goal by Ramsey Miller in the second minute of the game. Concordia head coach Rob Giesbrecht commented on the early struggles of his team on Saturday. “We just started the game very poorly,” said Giesbrecht. “We gave up an early goal, and we were probably fortunate that we didn’t give up more.”

The Bulldogs picked up the intensity and created some more offensive opportunities in the second half. However, the Flames managed to extend the lead to 2-0 with an unassisted goal by Raeleigh Withney in the 57th minute. Concordia’s Jackie Ford scored in the 75th minute to pull the Bulldogs within one at 2-1. The Bulldogs had a few chances to tie the game down the stretch. However, it was not meant to be, and the Flames held on for the 2-1 win.

The Bulldogs open conference play at Dana College on Sept. 16. Coach Giesbrecht hopes Saturday’s loss will not shake the confidence of his team heading into conference play. “We are obviously disappointed with today’s result,” said Giesbrecht. “We know we can play better than that. We’ve improved dramatically in many ways, and we will need to move on from this subpar effort.”

Concordia suffers 3-0 loss to Dana in conference opener

16 SEP 2009

Concordia University 0, Dana College 3 (view stats)

Dana College defeated Concordia by the score of 3-0 in women’s soccer on Wednesday afternoon in Blair. The host Vikings improved to 4-1-1 overall and 1-0 in the GPAC with the win. Concordia dropped to 2-3-2 overall and 0-1 in the GPAC with the loss.

Dana College scored all three goals in the first half. Aimee Kersigo, Jamie Queen and Brittany Naseman scored the goals for Dana, and Michelle Mullen added two assists for the Vikings.

Concordia returns home to host Morningside College on Sept. 19. The game is set to begin at 1 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium in Seward.

Blanck leads Concordia to 3-2 win over Morningside

19 SEP 2009

Concordia University 3, Morningside College 2 (view stats)

Mallorie Blanck had a hat trick, and the Concordia women’s soccer team held on for a 3-2 win over Morningside College on Saturday afternoon in Seward. The Bulldogs improved to 3-3-2 overall and 1-1-0 in the GPAC with the win. Morningside dropped to 1-4-1 overall and 0-1-1 in the GPAC with the loss.

Blanck put Concordia in the lead with her first goal of the game in the 55th minute off an assist by Molly Humlicek. Morningside’s Karlee Hauptman scored to tie the game at 1-1 in the 80th minute. Blanck connected with her second goal of the game in the 85th minute to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead. Less than a minute later, the Mustangs tied the game at 2-2 with a goal by Jamie Swotek. With fewer than 10 seconds remaining in the contest, Blanck scored her third goal of the game to give the Bulldogs the exciting win.

After the game, Blanck discussed the importance of the win. “I think we’re just figuring out how to play as a team,” said Blanck. “Hopefully this win will help carry us and motivate us as we go through the conference season.”

Morningside held a slight 16-14 shot advantage, and both teams had four corner kicks in the game. Ariel Harris made five saves and allowed the two goals to earn the win in goal for the Bulldogs.

Concordia head coach Rob Giesbrecht was pleased with the response of his team. We’re delighted with the result and that we bounced back for a win following a poor performance against Dana,” said Giesbrecht. “We know that we still can play better, but we’re very happy with today’s win.”

Concordia hosts Doane College on Sept. 22. The game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.

Bulldogs fall to Doane 2-0

22 SEP 2009

Concordia University 0, Doane College 2 (view stats)

Doane College earned a 2-0 win over Concordia University in women’s soccer on Tuesday night in Seward. The visiting Tigers improved to 2-5-0 overall and 1-2-0 in the GPAC with the win. Concordia dropped to 3-4-2 overall and 1-2-0 in the GPAC with the loss.

Doane controlled play for much of the first half and had several scoring opportunities. However, Concordia goalie Ariel Harris made 10 saves in the opening half to keep the game tied 0-0 heading into halftime.

In the 72nd minute, Doane finally broke on top with a goal by Kelsie Grgurich. The Tigers added an insurance goal by Ally Tamerius in the 84th minute to secure the 2-0 win.

Doane controlled play for much of the game with a 20-3 shot advantage in the contest. The Tigers had five corner kicks compared to two for the Bulldogs. Concordia had 12 fouls in the game to 11 for Doane.

Doane goalie Jordan Ludwig earned the win in net and made one save for the Tigers. Ariel Harris made 11 saves for Concordia in the loss.

Concordia will travel to Dordt College on Sept. 26 for a 1 p.m. contest.

Dordt College earns 3-0 win over Concordia

26 SEP 2009

Concordia University 0, Dordt 3 (view stats)

Dordt College blanked Concordia 3-0 in women’s soccer on Saturday afternoon. The Defenders improved to 8-1 overall and 3-1 in the GPAC with the win. Concordia fell to 3-5-2 overall and 1-3 in the GPAC with the loss.

Dordt took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Kelly Smies in the 24th minute. The score remained the same until Dordt’s Elise Wedel scored to give the Defenders a 2-0 lead. Morgan Rodenburgh added a goal for Dordt in the 69th minute for the final score of 3-0.

Dordt held a large advantage in shots and also had five corner kicks compared to just two for Concordia. Ariel Harris made eight saves and allowed the three goals to take the loss in goal for the Bulldogs. Steph Goslinga made two saves to earn the win for Dordt.

Concordia hosts Mount Marty on Oct. 3. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium in Seward.

Bulldogs handle Mount Marty College 6-1

3 OCT 2009

Concordia University 6, Mount Marty College 1 (view stats)

Concordia University cruised to a 6-1 win over Mount Marty College in women’s soccer on Saturday afternoon in Seward. The Bulldogs improved to 4-5-2 overall and 2-3 in the GPAC with the win. Mount Marty dropped to 1-9 overall and 0-5 in the GPAC with the loss.

The Bulldogs took an early 1-0 lead in the second minute of the game when Mallorie Blanck scored her fifth goal of the season off a corner kick by Sarah Hoffman. Concordia added another goal to take a 2-0 lead on a goal by Kali Lane late in the first half.

Molly Humlicek scored her third goal of the season in the 51st minute to increase the Bulldog lead to 3-0, and Mallorie Blanck added her second goal of the game and sixth goal of the season to give Concordia a 4-0 lead in the 53rd minute.

Mount Marty got on the board in the 56th minute on a goal by Lauren Donlin to make the score 4-1. Concordia responded with another goal in the 69th minute by Amanda Emerson to increase the Bulldog lead back to four at 5-1. Concordia’s Carolyn Chrzan knocked home her fourth goal of the season in the 81st minute for the final score of 6-1.

Concordia held a 29-9 shot advantage in the game, and the Bulldogs had nine corner kicks compared to just one for Mount Marty. Ariel Harris allowed one goal and made five saves to earn the win in goal for Concordia. Maggie Gall made eight saves and allowed the six goals in goal for Mount Marty.

Concordia hosts Hastings College on Oct. 6. The game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium in Seward.

Bulldogs earn first-ever win over Hastings College

6 OCT 2009

Concordia University 2, Hastings College 0 (view stats)

The Concordia University women’s soccer team earned an impressive 2-0 win over Hastings College on Tuesday evening in Seward. It was the first-ever win for the Concordia women in the series against Hastings College. The Bulldogs improved to 5-5-2 overall and 3-3 in the GPAC with the win. The Broncos dropped to 8-2-2 overall and 3-1-2 in the GPAC with the loss.

Both teams had good scoring chances in the first half, but the game remained tied 0-0 until early in the second half. In the 57th minute, Concordia’s Mallorie Blanck scored her seventh goal of the season to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Sarah Hoffmann had the assist on the first Concordia goal.

Concordia added an insurance goal in the 74th minute to take a 2-0 lead. Blanck connected with Carolyn Chrzan on a downfield pass, and Chrzan found the net with her fifth goal of the season for the Bulldogs.

After the game, Blanck talked about the overall effort of the team. “We wanted to get them on their heels and hurt their confidence,” said Blanck. “We played good defense, and our first goal really changed the momentum of the game. It feels great to get this win.”

Hastings College held a 22-10 advantage in shots over Concordia. The Broncos had four corner kicks compared to three for the Bulldogs. However, the Concordia defense stayed strong throughout the game, and Bulldog goalie Ariel Harris (4-5-1) made 12 saves to earn her second shutout of the season.

Chrzan discussed the importance of the win. “This is a tremendous boost in confidence for us,” commented Chrzan. “We proved that we can do it, and it feels awesome to beat one of the top teams in the conference.”

Concordia head coach Rob Giesbrecht also commented on the victory. "We're delighted with the win this evening," said Giesbrecht. "The girls did everything that we asked of them tonight, and I'm very proud of this team and the effort they played with."

Concordia will travel to Briar Cliff University on Oct. 10 for a 1 p.m. contest against the Chargers.

Chrzan and Blanck shine in 4-2 win over Briar Cliff

10 OCT 2009

Concordia University 4, Briar Cliff University 2 (view stats)

Carolyn Chrzan had three goals and an assist, Mallorie Blanck added a goal and two assists and the Concordia women’s soccer team earned a 4-2 win over Briar Cliff University on Saturday afternoon in Sioux City. The Bulldogs improved to 6-5-2 overall and 4-3 in the GPAC with the win. The Chargers dropped to 4-7-1 overall and 2-4-1 in the GPAC with the loss.

“I’m really proud of our team for getting this win,” said Rob Giesbrecht, head coach for the Bulldogs. “The girls really persevered and just gutted it out today. Carolyn (Chrzan) and Mallorie (Blanck) were absolutely fantastic, and it was a good overall performance by our team.”

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 17 seconds into the game when Chrzan scored her first goal of the game off an assist by Blanck. Blanck scored in the 29th minute off an assist by Chrzan to give Concordia a 2-0 lead. Briar Cliff answered with a goal by Ashley Wehle in the 32nd minute to cut the lead to one at 2-1.

In the 67th minute, the Chargers tied the game at 2-2 on a goal by Kayla Phillips. Chrzan scored her second goal of the game off another assist by Blanck to give the Bulldogs the lead once again at 3-2. Concordia put the game away in the 86th minute. Molly Hein assisted Chrzan on her third goal of the game to make the final score 4-2.

Briar Cliff held a slight 11-10 advantage in shots in the contest, and both teams had three corner kicks. Ariel Harris made seven saves to earn the win in goal for the Bulldogs.

Concordia hosts Midland Lutheran on Oct. 14 in a 5 p.m. contest at Bulldog Stadium in Seward.

Midland sneaks past Concordia 1-0

14 OCT 2009

Midland Lutheran 1, Concordia University 0 (view stats)

Midland Lutheran earned a 1-0 women’s soccer win over Concordia on Wednesday night in Seward. The Warriors improved to 10-3-0 overall and 6-2-0 in the GPAC with the win. Concordia dropped to 6-6-2 overall and 4-4-0 in the GPAC with the loss.

The game remained scoreless until the 70th minute. Midland’s Natasha Heil capitalized on a Concordia turnover and found the net to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs had opportunities to tie the game down the stretch, but Midland held on for the 1-0 victory.

Midland held a 13-10 advantage in shots for the game. The Warriors had four corner kicks compared to three for the Bulldogs. Carolyn Chrzan and Molly Humlicek had three shots apiece, and Mallorie Blanck added two shots for Concordia in the loss. Sorina Mychackavane made five saves to earn the shutout win in goal for Midland. Ariel Harris allowed the one goal and made five saves for the Bulldogs.

Concordia travels to Northwestern College on Saturday for a 5:30 p.m. contest against the Red Raiders.

Bulldogs suffer tough 2-1 loss at Northwestern

17 OCT 2009

Northwestern College 2, Concordia University 1 (view stats)

Northwestern College picked up a 2-1 win over Concordia in GPAC women’s soccer Saturday evening. Northwestern moved to 3-9-1 overall and 3-5-1 in conference play with the win. Concordia fell to 6-7-2 overall and 4-5-0 in the GPAC with the loss.

Northwestern opened the scoring with a goal by Katy Phillips in the 44th minute. Concordia tied the game in the 76th minute on a goal by Molly Humlicek. Less than three minutes later, Phillips scored the eventual game-winning goal to lift the Red Raiders to the 2-1 win.

It was a very difficult loss for the Bulldogs, as Concordia held a commanding 17-5 shot advantage in the contest. The Bulldogs also had three corner kicks compared to two for the Raiders.

Sarah Hoffmann, Carolyn Chrzan, Molly Hein and Molly Humlicek all had three shots for Concordia. Ariel Harris allowed the two goals and suffered the loss in net for the Bulldogs. Jennifer Cantwell made seven saves and allowed the one goal to pick up the win for Northwestern.

Concordia will travel to Nebraska Wesleyan on Oct. 21. The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in Lincoln.

Bulldogs notch first-ever win over Nebraska Wesleyan

21 OCT 2009

Concordia University 3, Nebraska Wesleyan University 0 (view stats)

Concordia University picked up a 3-0 women’s soccer win over Nebraska Wesleyan on a cold and rainy Wednesday evening in Lincoln. It was the first-ever win for Concordia in the series against the Prairie Wolves. The Bulldogs improved to 7-7-2 overall and 5-5 in the GPAC with the win. Nebraska Wesleyan dropped to 4-9-3 overall and 0-7-3 in the GPAC with the loss.

“I’m so proud of the team for getting a win like this in less-than-ideal conditions,” said Rob Giesbrecht, head coach for the Bulldogs. “We really put the work in to get this win.”

Concordia controlled play through much of the game and was never really threatened by the Prairie Wolves. Carolyn Chrzan scored her team-high ninth goal of the season off an assist by Hannah Denk to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Molly Humlicek followed with a goal off an assist by Sarah Hoffmann to increase the Concordia lead to 2-0. Denk added an insurance goal off an assist by Chrzan for the final score of 3-0.

There was heavy rain and windy conditions for much of the game, but coach Giesbrecht was pleased with how his team responded. “The weather really didn’t affect us at all tonight,” said Giesbrecht. “We’ve dealt with adversity all year with injuries, and tonight we handled the adversity of playing in tough conditions. It was a real team effort, and that’s what needs to happen on a night like this.”

Concordia hosts Dakota Wesleyan on Oct. 24 on parent’s night at Bulldog Stadium. The game is set to begin at 6 p.m.

Dakota Wesleyan defeats Concordia 3-1

24 OCT 2009

Dakota Wesleyan 3, Concordia University 1 (view stats)

Kim Duff scored two goals to lead Dakota Wesleyan to a 3-1 GPAC women’s soccer win over Concordia on Saturday evening in Seward. The visiting Tigers improved to 13-0-3 overall and 9-0-1 in the GPAC with the win. Concordia slipped to 7-8-2 overall and 5-6-0 in the GPAC with the loss.

Dakota Wesleyan took a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute on a goal by Kim Duff. The score remained the same until late in the second half. In the 78th minute, Concordia’s Carolyn Chrzan scored her team-high 10th goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1. Just over a minute later, Dakota Wesleyan’s Heather Kopecky scored off an assist by Sarah Duff to give the visiting Tigers a 2-1 lead. In the 88th minute, Kim Duff scored her second goal of the game for the final score of 3-1.

Dakota Wesleyan held a slight 12-10 shot advantage in the game. Concordia had eight corner kicks compared to four for the Tigers. Danielle Richardson made four saves and allowed one goal to earn the win in goal for Dakota Wesleyan. Ariel Harris made two saves and allowed three goals in net for Concordia.

Concordia will conclude the regular season with a 5:30 p.m. contest at the University of Sioux Falls on Oct. 31.

Bulldogs conclude regular season with 1-0 loss at Sioux Falls

31 OCT 2009

University of Sioux Falls 1, Concordia University 0 (view stats)

The University of Sioux Falls defeated Concordia by the score of 1-0 in GPAC women’s soccer on Saturday evening. The Cougars improved to 10-7-1 overall and 7-4-1 in the GPAC with the win. Concordia slipped to 7-9-2 overall and 5-7-0 in the GPAC with the loss.

The game remained scoreless until the 60th minute. USF’s Ashley Dement scored off an assist by Tasia Murray to give the Cougars the 1-0 lead. Concordia couldn’t get the equalizer, and Sioux Falls held on for the victory.

The Cougars held a 13-5 advantage in shots and a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks for the game. Mallorie Blanck and Molly Humlicek each had two shots for Concordia. Ariel Harris allowed the one goal and made six saves in a losing effort for the Bulldogs. Sioux Falls goalie Kelsey Van Peursem made just one save to earn the win in net for the Cougars.

Concordia will travel to Dakota Wesleyan for a 1 p.m. contest in the quarterfinal round of the GPAC Tournament on Nov. 5. The Tigers are the top seed and regular season champions after going 11-0-1 in conference play and 15-0-3 overall. Eight teams will compete in the single elimination tournament with the winner advancing to the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championships.

Bulldogs end season with 1-0 loss to Dakota Wesleyan in GPAC Tournament

5 NOV 2009

Dakota Wesleyan University 1, Concordia University 0 (view stats)

The top-seeded Dakota Wesleyan University women’s soccer team remained unbeaten and advanced in the GPAC Tournament with a 1-0 win over Concordia on Thursday afternoon. The host Tigers improved to 16-0-3 on the year, while Concordia ended its season at 7-10-2.

Each team had quality scoring opportunities, but the game remained scoreless until the 60th minute. Dakota Wesleyan’s Kim Duff put a shot on goal. Concordia goalie Ariel Harris made the save on Duff’s shot, but Abby Hubbard scored on the rebound to give the Tigers the 1-0 win.

“We showed some youth today,” said Rob Giesbrecht, head coach of the Bulldogs. “We played well at times, but we were very flat in the second half. Consistency has hurt us at times this year, and we definitely needed to be more consistent today.”

Dakota Wesleyan finished the game with a 19-7 shot advantage. The Tigers also had 15 corner kicks compared to two for the Bulldogs. Dani Richardson made two saves to earn the shutout for the Tigers. Ariel Harris made seven saves and allowed the one goal for Concordia. Skye Pahl had five total shots and three shots on goal for Dakota Wesleyan. Carolyn Chrzan and Mallorie Blanck had three shots apiece for Concordia in the loss.

Concordia fought through several key injuries and a slow start at the beginning of the year to make the conference tournament. Coach Giesbrecht talked about the positives of the season. “We definitely showed a lot of promise,” commented Giesbrecht. We need more consistency, but if we can stay healthy, we feel like we can play with anybody. We’re very optimistic moving forward.”

Chrzan named GPAC player of the week

Concordia University forward Carolyn Chrzan was named GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Soccer Offensive Player-of-the-Week on Tuesday for her efforts in two Bulldog wins last week. Chrzan, a junior from Burbank, Calif., scored four goals and added an assist as Concordia went 2-0 in conference play.

She scored a goal in Concordia’s 2-0 win over Hastings College on Oct. 6. It was Concordia’s first-ever win over Hastings College. This past Saturday, Chrzan had three goals and an assist to lead the Bulldogs past Briar Cliff University by the score of 4-2.

“Carolyn put together two great games,” said Rob Giesbrecht, head coach for the Bulldogs. “She sealed the Hastings win with a breakaway goal. She caused all sorts of problems for the Briar Cliff defenders, and her goal 16 seconds into the Briar Cliff game really set the tone for our team.”

For the season, Chrzan has eight goals and four assists. She is tied for the team lead in both categories and has rebounded after missing the 2008 season due to injury.

Coach Giesbrecht talked about the progress of his junior forward. “Carolyn is starting to find her form,” said Giesbrecht. “She has regained her fitness and is playing extremely well. She has formed an effective partnership with Mallorie Blanck up top, and our team is benefiting from their ability to produce goals.”

The Concordia women (6-5-2, 4-3-0 GPAC) have won three straight games. The Bulldogs host Midland Lutheran on Oct. 14 in a 5 p.m. contest.

Chrzan, Hoffmann and Blanck represent Concordia on GPAC All-Conference team

Three players from Concordia University were named to the 2009 Great Plains Athletic Conference women’s soccer All-Conference Team announced Tuesday. Junior Carolyn Chrzan earned First Team All-GPAC honors. Junior Sarah Hoffmann earned Second Team All-GPAC honors, while sophomore Mallorie Blanck was an honorable mention selection.

Chrzan, a forward from Burbank, Calif., led the Bulldogs in scoring this season with a team-high 10 goals to go along with five assists. She played in all 19 games during the 2009 season and had two game-winning goals. Her 10 goals were tied for seventh best in the GPAC. Chrzan was named GPAC Offensive Player-of-the-Week on Oct. 13 after scoring four goals and adding an assist in Concordia wins over Hastings College and Briar Cliff University.

“It’s great to see Carolyn get First Team All-Conference,” said Rob Giesbrecht, head coach of the Bulldogs. “Coming off a medical redshirt year, she returned to have a strong season and great impact on our team. I think the mental toughness that Carolyn gained from dealing with severe misfortune of the injury incident has helped take her game to the next level. I still think she has another level in her, and I am looking forward to coaching her for one more season.”

Hoffmann, a defender from Mesa, Ariz., had a team-high six assists to rank in a tie for sixth place in the GPAC. She played in 18 games with 17 starts for the Bulldogs, and her leadership was vital to the success of the Bulldogs in the 2009 season.

“Sarah is one of the best players in our conference,” said Giesbrecht. “She anchored our back four which was short on experience. Because of her ability and leadership, we were able to defend as a cohesive unit. She also chipped in with six assists, and her service on our set pieces is brilliant. Sarah’s competitiveness and leadership propelled our team forward this season.”

Blanck, a forward from Manhattan, Kan., scored eight goals and added three assists for Concordia this season. She appeared in all 19 games for the Bulldogs, and she was second on the team in scoring with 19 points. Blanck had a team-high 32 shots on goal. Her eight goals tied for ninth in the GPAC for goals scored this season, and she added two game-winning goals for the Bulldogs.

“Mallorie had a strong year as well,” commented Giesbrecht. “She is a clinical finisher and scored some crucial goals for us. Mallorie and Carolyn have formed an effective partnership up top for us, and I am thrilled that they have another year together. Mallorie’s best soccer is ahead of her. She is so talented and can change a game with ability to either create a scoring opportunity for someone else or to knock one in herself. She has matured a lot this year and has taken a huge step forward.”

Concordia finished the 2009 season with an overall record of 7-10-2 to go along with a 5-7-0 mark in the GPAC. The Bulldogs overcame several injuries and a slow start in conference play to qualify for postseason play in the GPAC Tournament. The Bulldogs were a very balanced squad in 2009, and Coach Giesbrecht discussed other players who had All-Conference caliber seasons.

“I wish more of our player could’ve received recognition,” said Giesbrecht. “Ariel Harris had a great year in goal. There is not another goalkeeper in our conference that I would rather have than Ariel. She is a fantastic shot-stopper and is starting to become an excellent on-field leader. Hannah Denk also was very good this year. She probably is our most consistent performer. Her dependability and versatility are huge assets to our team. I am very proud of my team this year. Even though we missed several key players due to season-long injuries, we accomplished our goal of qualifying for the postseason.”

Five Bulldogs named as 2009 women's soccer scholar-athletes

A total of five Concordia University women’s soccer players were named as 2009 Daktronics-NAIA Women’s Soccer Scholar-Athletes. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes announced that a total of 387 women’s soccer student-athletes were named to the 2009 list.

Nominated by each institution’s head coach, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and have achieved junior academic status to qualify.

Carolyn Chrzan, Shelley Hermann, Allyson Timmerman, Molly Millard and Hannah Denk all earned the honor for the Bulldogs. “I am so proud of our players for this academic achievement,” said Rob Giesbrecht, head coach of the Bulldogs. “Our program strives for excellence both on the field as well as in the classroom. This is a great accomplishment for these five student-athletes and a great example of what Concordia University athletics is all about.”