2021 Women's Soccer Schedule/Results
9-7-2 overall | 6-4-2 GPAC (6th) | Season Stats | Roster
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time/Result | Record |
| Aug. 28 | Tabor College (Kan.) | Seward, Neb. | W, 2-1 | 1-0 |
| Aug. 31 | Grand View University (Iowa) | Des Moines, Iowa | L, 0-3 | 1-1 |
| Sept. 8 | (23) Benedictine College (Kan.) | Seward, Neb. | L, 0-3 | 1-2 |
| Sept. 11 | Southwestern College (Kan.) | Winfield, Kan. | W, 2-1 | 2-2 |
| Sept. 15 | Bellevue University | Omaha, Neb. | W, 2-1 (2 OT) | 3-2 |
| Sept. 18 | *Mount Marty University | Seward, Neb. | W, 7-0 | 4-2, 1-0 |
| Sept. 22 | *Dordt University | Seward, Neb. | T, 1-1 (2 OT) | 4-2-1, 1-0-1 |
| Sept. 25 | *Northwestern College | Orange City, Iowa | T, 2-2 (2 OT) | 4-2-2, 1-0-2 |
| Sept. 29 | *Midland University | Seward, Neb. | W, 1-0 | 5-2-2, 2-0-2 |
| Oct. 2 | *Dakota Wesleyan University | Mitchell, S.D. | L, 0-1 | 5-3-2, 2-1-2 |
| Oct. 6 | *Morningside University | Seward, Neb. | W, 2-1 (OT) | 6-3-2, 3-1-2 |
| Oct. 9 | *University of Jamestown | Jamestown, N.D. | L, 0-1 | 6-4-2, 3-2-2 |
| Oct. 13 | *College of Saint Mary | Seward, Neb. | W, 1-0 | 7-4-2, 4-2-2 |
| Oct. 16 | *Hastings College | Hastings, Neb. | L, 0-1 | 7-5-2, 4-3-2 |
| Oct. 20 | *Briar Cliff University | Sioux City, Iowa | L, 0-3 | 7-6-2, 4-4-2 |
| Oct. 23 | *Presentation College | Seward, Neb. | W, 2-0 | 8-6-2, 5-4-2 |
| Oct. 27 | *Doane University | Crete, Neb. | W, 1-0 | 9-6-2, 6-4-2 |
| GPAC Tournament | ||||
| Nov. 4 | Hastings College (Quarterfinals) | Hastings, Neb. | L, 0-1 | 9-7-2 |
2021 Roster
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| 0 | Kassidy Johnson | GK | 5-7 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Raymond Central HS |
| 00 | Kalie Ward | GK | 5-5 | Jr. | Cheyenne, Wyo. | Loudoun County HS |
| 1 | Angela Banks | GK | 5-4 | Fr. | Downey, Calif. | Saint Joseph HS |
| 2 | Allee Downing | F | 5-4 | So. | Sioux City, Iowa | Sioux City East HS |
| 3 | Michaela Twito | MF | 5-5 | Sr. | Ames, Iowa | Ames HS |
| 4 | Callie McNary | D | 5-7 | Jr. | Hastings, Minn. | Hastings HS |
| 5 | Anisa Lewis | F | 5-7 | Fr. | Maple Hill, N.C. | Heide Trask Senior HS |
| 6 | Sydney Rogers | MF | 5-6 | Jr. | Overland Park, Kan. | Blue Valley HS |
| 8 | Bethany Fuchs | F | 5-4 | Jr. | Aurora, Colo. | Eaglecrest HS / W Nebraska CC |
| 9 | Madeline Haugen | F | 5-6 | Jr. | San Diego, Calif. | Valhalla HS |
| 10 | Aliyah Aldama | MF | 5-5 | So. | Torrance, Calif. | North HS |
| 11 | Katelyn Smith | F | 5-0 | Fr. | Omaha, Neb. | Millard North HS |
| 12 | Lauren Edmond | MF | 5-4 | Fr. | Gastonia, N.C. | Gaston Day School |
| 13 | Lina Kirst | MF | 5-7 | So. | Montevideo, Uruguay | Uruguayan American School |
| 14 | Lilley Barber | D | 5-2 | Fr. | Overland Park, Kan. | Olathe East HS |
| 15 | Lisa McClain | F | 5-4 | So. | Fraser, Colo. | Middle Park HS |
| 19 | Molly Roberts | D | 5-4 | Fr. | Columbus, Neb. | Columbus HS |
| 21 | Mikeila Martinez | MF | 5-5 | Jr. | Fairfield, Calif. | Armijo HS |
| 22 | Ellie Eason | MF | 5-6 | So. | Kirkland, Wash. | Juanita HS |
| 23 | Grace Soenksen | D | 5-5 | So. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Lutheran HS |
| 24 | Kadyn Lane | MF | 5-6 | So. | Las Vegas, Nev. | Faith Lutheran HS |
| 25 | Hannah Haas | MF | 5-4 | Fr. | Colorado Springs, Colo. | Doherty HS |
| 26 | Caitlin Davis | D | 5-3 | So. | Hot Sulphur Springs, Colo. | Middle Park HS |
| 27 | Cassie Montiel | MF | 5-2 | Sr. | Columbus, Neb. | Columbus HS |
| 28 | Emily Howard | D | 5-1 | Fr. | Overland Park, Kan. | Olathe East HS |
| 29 | Taylor Slaymaker | D | 5-7 | Fr. | Kearney, Neb. | Kearney HS |
| 30 | Cheyenne Smith | D | 5-7 | Jr. | Alpine, Calif. | Granite Hills HS |
| 31 | Abby Vodicka | MF | 5-3 | Fr. | Unadilla, Neb. | Syracuse Dunbar Avoca HS |
| 32 | Senna McMullen | D | 5-5 | Fr. | Olathe, Kan. | Olathe South HS |
| 33 | Zoe Peterson | MF | 5-11 | Fr. | Eagle, Neb. | Waverly HS |
| 41 | Bradi Ore | GK | 5-6 | So. | Keller, Texas | Northwest HS / Allen CC |
STAFF
Thomas Goines, Head Coach
Chris Luther, Assistant Coach
Jack Bennett, Goalkeeper Coach
Mellonee Hall, Assistant Coach
2021 Schedule Release: Concordia Women’s Soccer
Jun. 4, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – A thrilling spring GPAC tournament championship run will lead into the 2021 season for Concordia University Women’s Soccer. Unveiled on Friday (June 4), the ’21 Bulldog schedule is now available to the public. The slate features 17 regular season matchups, including 12 within the conference. The new season is set to open up at home against Tabor College (Kan.) on Aug. 28.
This should be a more standard season for Concordia, which played in both the fall and spring this past season. In year one of his tenure, Head Coach Thomas Goines guided the Bulldogs to an overall record of 11-6-2 and a tie for second place in the GPAC regular season (9-2-1 league mark). They then proceeded to win three games during the conference tournament. The GPAC postseason title clinched an automatic bid to the opening round of the national tournament. Three Concordia standouts landed on either the All-GPAC first or second team: Mikeila Martinez (first team), Grace Soenksen (first team) and Allee Downing (second team).
In addition to Tabor, nonconference foes in 2021 will include Grand View University (Iowa), Benedictine College (Kan.), Southwestern College (Kan.) and Bellevue University. Four of the five nonconference games will be rematches from last season. Conference play will begin on Sept. 18 when Mount Marty visits Bulldog Stadium. Matchups versus in-state rivals are coming up Sept. 29 versus Midland and Oct. 16 at Hastings.
The conference tournament dates are set for Nov. 4 for the quarterfinals, Nov. 9 for the semifinals and Nov. 12 for the championship game. The NAIA National Championship Opening Round is slated for Nov. 18 and 20 with action at the final site (location to be announced) set to run from Nov. 30 – Dec. 6.
Defending GPAC tourney champs pegged second in GPAC poll
Aug. 11, 2021
2021 GPAC Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll
SEWARD, Neb. – Based on expectations heading into the season, Concordia University Women’s Soccer is forecasted to compete near the top of the GPAC standings. In the 2021 conference preseason poll released on Wednesday (Aug. 11), the defending GPAC tournament champions checked in at No. 2 with 129 points and two first-place votes. A season ago, Head Coach Thomas Goines guided the Bulldogs into a tie for second in the regular season. They then went on a magical postseason run as part of an unusual two-part season.
Concordia returns many key performers, including 2020 All-GPAC honorees in Mikeila Martinez (first team), Grace Soenksen (first team), Allee Downing (second team), Madeline Haugen (honorable mention), Cheyenne Smith (honorable mention) and Michaela Twito (honorable mention). A four-year starter, Twito is on the verge of breaking a program record for most career games played. Meanwhile, Martinez paced the squad with seven goals last season.
Briar Cliff (No. 22) was the lone GPAC squad to receive recognition in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll announced on Wednesday. Concordia cracked the NAIA top 25 poll as recently as 2017 when it climbed as high as 21st. The highest ever national ranking for the program was achieved by the 2015 squad that ascended to No. 16. Four different Bulldog teams (all since 2014) have received votes at the conclusion of their campaigns.
Concordia will kick off the 2021 season on Aug. 28 when it hosts Tabor College (Kan.). Game time is set for 1 p.m. CT from Bulldog Stadium.
2021 GPAC Preseason Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll
-First-place votes in parentheses
1. Briar Cliff – 136 (8)
2. Concordia – 129 (2)
3. Jamestown – 120 (3)
4. Morningside – 113
5. Hastings – 107
6. Midland – 84
7. Dakota Wesleyan – 75
8. Dordt – 73
9. Northwestern – 57
10. College of Saint Mary – 45
11. Mount Marty – 28
12. Doane – 25
13. Presentation – 20
Season Preview: 2021 Concordia Women's Soccer
Aug. 18, 2021
Head Coach: Thomas Goines (11-6-2; 2nd season at Concordia; 84-61-18 in 9 years overall)
2020 Record: 11-6-2 overall; 9-2-1 GPAC (T-2nd)
Key Returners: MF Aliyah Aldama; D Allee Downing; D Ellie Eason; F Bethany Fuchs; MF Kadyn Lane; MF Madeline Haugen; MF Mikeila Martinez; D Callie McNary; D Cheyenne Smith; D Grace Soenksen; MF Michaela Twito.
Key Losses: MF Jaiden Beecher; GK Lindsey Carley; MF Tori Cera.
2020 GPAC All-Conference: Mikeila Martinez (First Team); Grace Soenksen (First Team); Allee Downing (Second Team); Jaiden Beecher (Honorable Mention); Lindsey Carley (Honorable Mention); Madeline Haugen (Honorable Mention); Cheyenne Smith (Honorable Mention); Michaela Twito (Honorable Mention).
Outlook
It’s been just over four months since the Concordia University Women’s Soccer program celebrated an unusual spring GPAC tournament title run. Nine of the Bulldogs who started that GPAC championship win over Jamestown on April 9 have returned for a squad pegged for second in the conference preseason coaches’ poll. Based on recent history, this program has earned the benefit of the doubt. Incredibly, Concordia has reached the GPAC tournament title game in six of the past seven seasons.
Finally, Thomas Goines has had a chance to catch his breath and get his feet underneath of him after a whirlwind of a first season as head coach of the Bulldogs. Goines was impressed with the talent he inherited and now hopes Concordia can build upon last season.
“A lot of skill, a lot of competition,” said Goines of his first impressions regarding the 2021 team. “It’s a blending of younger players with returners. It’s going to be an interesting year for us. I’m excited for what we’re capable of doing. There’s a lot of talent on the field. It’s about getting our mentality back and hitting the reset button. We had a year-long season, which had never happened. We have to hit the ground running and keep that momentum that we finished the year on. They’ve taken that challenge and continue to grow every day.”
Not only did the Bulldogs capture the GPAC postseason banner during the 2020-21 two-part season, they also placed in a tie for second in the conference regular season standings and earned a signature victory over Briar Cliff. Six of the eight All-GPAC performers from last season have returned: Mikeila Martinez (first team), Grace Soenksen (first team), Allee Downing (second team), Madeline Haugen (honorable mention), Cheyenne Smith (honorable mention) and Michaela Twito (honorable mention). Martinez was the team’s leading goal scorer (seven goals) while Twito (fifth year) is on the cusp of breaking the program’s all-time record for career games played.
In the process of becoming a champion back in April, Concordia became a side that hung its hat on solid team defensive play. The 2020-21 team equaled a program record for fewest goals allowed in a single season (14). The back line became a strength behind all-conference honorees in Downing and Soenksen. Downing has taken well to an outside back role while Soenksen (whose sister Esther was a standout Bulldog) has developed into a rock at center back.
“We had to hang our hat on defense, especially late in the year,” Goines said. “Some of our attacking players weren’t available to us as we went further on. We had to become a gritty, defensive-minded program. I don’t think you lose that. We have a lot of women who gave everything in that defensive mentality. Hopefully some of the new additions and the things we’re working on in the preseason will give us a better attacking punch. We want to be a little more on the front foot and pressure teams. If we are put into a match where we know we have to defend, I’m confident we can compete in those matches.”
One would think this team would possess plenty of confidence after last season’s run. It was an unforgettable experience for the veterans who made it happen. Despite a string of close regular season spring defeats and other adverse circumstances, Concordia came together as a team and gutted it out in the postseason. Downing believes she knows why it all worked out.
Said Downing, “Definitely the team chemistry because I think that took us a long way. We all want to play for each other all the time. I think that motivates us to work really hard … Our run in April – that was so crazy. There were emotions I hadn’t felt and it makes all the hard work so worth it.”
The back line won’t have the luxury of four-year starter Lindsey Carley at goalkeeper this time around. In terms of career accolades and statistics, Carley goes down as one of the top goalkeepers in the history of the program. The final game of her career saw her record 13 saves and go out as a GPAC champion. The program has been spoiled with back-to-back four-year starters in Carley (2017-21) and Chrissy Lind (2013-17).
The current roster includes four goalkeepers, but none with extensive college game experience. The battle for the starting spot is still playing out in preseason.
Said Goines, “To replace Lindsey I don’t think is the right wording, but someone’s going to have to step in and fill those shoes. We’ve had a succession of quality goalkeepers here for a number of years. We have a really good position battle going on with four keepers who are fighting for that opportunity. I think it’s day-to-day. We’ve had girls who show well one day and then another girl who shows well the next day. It’s going to be very interesting to see who pulls ahead and wins that spot.”
No matter the keeper, the Bulldogs believe they will be able to keep opponent goals to a minimum. Perhaps a bigger question: who will score the goals? It may take a committee approach, but Martinez will certainly be a threat once again. During the GPAC postseason run, Bethany Fuchs played a heroic role in putting away the clinching PK in the semifinals and then the game winner in the final. In addition, Smith contributed four goals and Aliyah Aldama added three last season.
The trick is to “#FindAWay, which is the hashtag the @CUNEWSoccer Twitter account has put to use this preseason. Goines believes the newcomers will also have a hand in boosting the level of the Bulldogs. It’s likely newcomers will even crack the starting 11. It’s a new year and a new identity must be formed.
“I think the expectation for our program has always been one of excellence,” Goines said. “We’re expecting to compete. We had a great run of results at the end of the fall and topped it off by beating Briar Cliff, who was at the top of the conference. It was a great way to end a cycle. You can’t speak more highly of the women who came through that and all the things we addressed … This year’s team has to put its own chapter in the book. Our story is yet to be told.”
Concordia is embracing another season of high expectations. Said Downing, “It encourages our whole team to keep working hard because we have almost a target on our back.”
The 2021 season will officially kick off on Saturday, Aug. 28 when the Bulldogs host Tabor College (Kan.) at 1 p.m. CT.
Haas, Martinez supply offense in season opening win
Aug. 28, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – In its first official action since celebrating last season’s GPAC championship game victory, the Concordia University Women’s Soccer program carried over its winning ways. Hannah Haas and Mikeila Martinez supplied a goal apiece while the Bulldogs stifled the opposition’s attack in a 2-1 win over visiting Tabor College (Kan.). Both teams were met by scorching, sunny conditions inside Bulldog Stadium.
Head Coach Thomas Goines’ bunch is not yet a finished product, but there were a number of positive takeaways in the season opener. The Bluejays, a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, managed a grand total of four shots.
“It’s nice to get a win. The first time on the field you’re looking to see how consistent you can be,” Goines said. “You’re trying to gauge younger players and different combinations of players on the field. I think we went 20-21 deep today to see what players are ready to compete at this level. Finding a result with some of that experimentation is always nice. It’s a good first day.”
Now moving on without four-year starter Lindsey Carley, Concordia broke in a pair of new keepers on Saturday as Kalie Ward made the first start of her career. Ward played the first half before freshman Angela Banks filled the final 45 minutes in her first ever collegiate action. The only shot Tabor put on goal happened to squib over the goal line. For most of the 90 minutes, the Bulldog keepers watched their teammates control possession (15-4 shot advantage). It never hurts to have experience at center back, as Goines’ crew does in the form of Callie McNary and Grace Soenksen.
Concordia struck first thanks to Haas’ goal in the 32nd minute. She was played into the box on a perfectly executed cross from Katelyn Smith. The occasion marked the first career goal for Haas, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo. Then in the 57th minute, Martinez added the breathing room that the Bulldogs would end up needing. The 10th goal of Martinez’s goal was a frozen rope of a free kick just outside of the 18-yard box.
“That moment describes why I play,” Haas said of her breakthrough effort. “That’s why I work hard and everything I’ve done – it’s all worth it right there.”
Martinez and company had barely finished celebrating when Allison Cubban snuck a goal in less than a minute-and-a-half later. The Bluejays (1-1) musted only a single shot the rest of the way as Concordia avenged a 1-0 loss at Tabor that occurred during the 2019 season.
It may not have been all that long ago that the Bulldogs won the GPAC tournament title, but they now must redefine who they are. It’s a new team and a new season. Said Goines, “That’s the challenge. Winning a championship puts an automatic target on your back with everybody in your conference. We know we’re going to get the best they can throw at us … I think the biggest mental challenge is hitting the reset button as quickly as we’ve had to.”
The steamy conditions may have had something to do with the fact that a combined 45 players saw action on Saturday. All 11 starters for Concordia were returning players, including Michaela Twito, a fifth-year member of the program. Twito appeared in her 80th career college game on Saturday.
The Bulldogs will face their first road test on Tuesday (Aug. 31) when they head to Grand View University (1-1) for a 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff from Des Moines, Iowa. The two sides also played this past spring with the result being 2-1 Viking win in double overtime.
Attack stifled in shutout loss at Grand View
Aug. 31, 2021
DES MOINES, Iowa – In its first road test of the 2021 season, the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team came up empty on the attack. A pair of first-half goals sent Grand View University on the way to a 3-0 victory on its home field, Crownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday (Aug. 31) night. The Vikings limited the Bulldogs to just two shots for the entire 90 minutes.
Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad now stands at 1-1 having defeated Tabor College (Kan.) in the season opener. Grand View has been responsible for Concordia’s two most recent losses.
“We played a fairly uneven match today. Give credit to Grand View,” Goines said. “They gave us a counter-attacking shape that we hadn’t seen, and it’s just tough to break down. They brought a lot of energy with them, and we fell down two goals in the first half. You just can’t do that if you want to compete at a high level. Second half was a much better effort and a much cleaner run of play. I was happy with the fight in the second half. Now we have to get better and move on to the next match.”
Tuesday was a learning experience for a Bulldog team that struggled to mount anything in the attacking third. As for offensive chances, Grace Soenksen put one shot on frame in the 49th minute and Senna McMullen misfired wide left in the 88th minute. In other words, it was an uneventful evening for Viking starting keeper Celenka Hommel.
Grand View goals were delivered by Sammy Milani (19’), Ashlyn Williams (39’) and Grace Bernard (75’). The Vikings (2-1) put up 13 shots, including eight on goal. Bernard was particularly active. She was credited with four shots (three on goal) and assisted the goal by Williams.
For the second game in a row, Kalie “Rocket” Ward got the start in goal for Concordia. This was a much stiffer challenge than what was faced three days earlier versus Tabor College (Kan.). A highlight moment for Ward came shortly after the first goal when she made a diving save to her left. It was one of Ward’s five saves on Tuesday.
Goines has gone with an experienced starting lineup so far. Every player in the starting 11 entered this season having played at least two years of collegiate soccer. Four freshmen saw playing time off the bench on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs will have the next seven days off from game action while they prepare to host No. 25 Benedictine College (Kan.) on Wednesday, Sept. 8. Kickoff from Bulldog Stadium is set for 5:30 p.m. CT.
Run of home success halted by No. 23 Benedictine
Sep. 9, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Visiting and 23rd-ranked Benedictine College (Kan.) showed why it’s a top 25 team in its trip to Bulldog Stadium on Wednesday (Sept. 8). The Ravens were the clear aggressor in a 3-0 victory that saw them outshoot the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team, 22-5. The Bulldogs fell by a 3-0 final for the second outing in a row.
Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad learned something about the areas where improvement is needed. Concordia slipped to 1-2 overall. It had gone 3-0-1 over its previous four home games.
“I think it’s a similar story to the Grand View Match,” Goines said. “It’s a very talented team. They’re well-coached and they’re athletic at every position on the field. They challenged us in all three areas of the field. There wasn’t an inch that we didn’t have to earn. It took 45 minutes for us to grow into that. Our first half mentality wasn’t as strong as we wanted it to be. Second half – we challenged the girls to play with a little more desire to be involved in a high-end game.”
The statistics didn’t necessarily show it, but the Bulldogs competed more closely in the second half. The attacking efforts of Benedictine were on full display in the middle of the first half. Concordia managed to survive many of them, with the exception of the corner kick from Madeline Stewart in the 29th minute. In a mass of bodies in the box, Kerry Devine emerged with a header goal. The Ravens never looked back.
On the other end, Concordia generated precious few dangerous chances. Mikeila Martinez put two shots on frame, but it was mostly an uneventful affair for Benedictine keeper Olivia Berry. She made three saves on the way to a shutout.
Things were much different for Bulldog keeper Kalie Ward, who made eight saves while playing the full 90 minutes. A total of 19 players saw action for Concordia. The newcomers have not yet broken into the starting lineup, but several of them are logging significant minutes. Up top, Anisa Lewis has the potential to be a reliable goal scorer.
Said Goines, “We have two more matches on the nonconference schedule against good teams. It’s all about making sure where we’re at when conference play starts. We want to be hitting on all cylinders and have the rotations and the lineup that’s going to find the success we’re hoping for. I don’t think we’re that far off.”
The Ravens also got a goal apiece from Stewart and Madalynn Gill. Since a 1-0 loss to John Brown University (Ark.) to open its season, Benedictine (4-1) has won four consecutive games by a combined score of 16-1.
In a nonconference slate very similar to the 2020-21 season, the Bulldogs will play another repeat opponent. They will head to Winfield, Kan., on Saturday to take on Southwestern College (2-0-1) at 2 p.m. CT. The Moundbuilders defeated Concordia, 1-0, in double overtime back in the spring.
Martinez, Lewis spur comeback win at Southwestern
Sep. 11, 2021
WINFIELD, Kan. – It took a while for something to materialize on the offensive attack, but the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team got just enough on Saturday (Sept. 11) to emerge with a win at Southwestern College. Mikeila Martinez and Anisa Lewis were responsible for the goal scoring as the Bulldogs defeated the Moundbuilders, 2-1, in Winfield, Kan. Concordia came out on top despite posting roughly half the shots of its opponent.
Head Coach Thomas Goines’ program effectively avenged its 1-0 double overtime loss at Southwestern this past spring and shook off back-to-back defeats. The Bulldogs are 2-2 overall.
“The first half was a slow start. We’ve fallen into a pattern of that and need to work our way out of it,” Goines said. “The play was even and they hit a ball that was a beautiful shot that put us down a goal. We made a few adjustments in the second half, but we just put in a higher level of effort and play. We responded well and for the most part, dominated the second half. We forced Southwestern into a counter-attacking offense, which we were much more equipped to deal with.”
At the half, Southwestern (2-1-1) held an advantage of 7-2 in shots. Concordia then settled into the game against its foe from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Both teams wound up putting exactly five shots on goal, although the Moundbuilders had the overall shot advantage, 13-7. Lauren Fleischer gave Southwestern a very early lead with a highlight reel type of goal in the sixth minute.
Shortly after halftime, the tide turned. Said Goines, “We just created more chances in the second half and were far more dangerous. The first goal came over a nice sequence of passes – Marty beats the defender and hits it from about 18 yards out. Then Anisa put in a great effort on a ball in the box and we found a way to get our second goal. We had a chance at a handful of others.”
The second goal of the season for Martinez occurred in the 56th minute. Roughly seven minutes later, Lewis celebrated the first goal of her career. On the other end, the Moundbuilders failed to put a shot on frame the rest of the way.
Concordia starting keeper Kalie Ward made four saves. The back line in front of her included usual suspects such as center backs Callie McNary and Grace Soenksen and outside backs Allee Downing and Ellie Eason.
Another road challenge is coming up on Wednesday when the Bulldogs will play at Bellevue University (3-4). Kickoff is slated for 4:30 p.m. CT.
Kirst golden goal lifts Concordia over familiar nemesis
Sep. 15, 2021
PAPILLION, Neb. – The Concordia University Women's Soccer team finished up nonconference play with a double overtime thriller Wednesday night (Sept 15) in Papillion, Neb. After more than 101 minutes of a deadlock, Lina Kirst was able to find the back of the net and lift the Bulldogs to a 2-1 victory. The matchup between the two teams has been intense over the past few years with three-straight meetings resulting in overtime. Bellevue had won the previous two get-togethers.
Concordia improved to 3-2 overall. The result on Wednesday marked the third all-time series victory for the Bulldogs over the Bruins.
Said Head Coach Thomas Goines, “Last year we had a great battle with them and this year was nothing different. They’re a fantastic team and well-coached with a bunch of skillful players. It was a good sendoff to the conference season with a very challenging conference run ahead of us. We couldn’t ask for much more in terms of a competitive game. It was back-and-forth between both teams.”
Bethany Fuchs was a key player in the match scoring an early goal. This was her first goal scored since her game-winning strike in last year's GPAC championship game. Fuchs also had the assist on Kirst's game-winning goal.
“Bethany really showed well today,” Goines said. “That first goal, she took on two or three defenders, got across the middle and just put the ball home. Then in overtime, it was probably the best team goal I've seen in my two years. It was of four or five good passes and Bethany was on the end of it with a well-slotted ball across the ground. Lina was there to tap it home. It was beautiful to see."
Wednesday night was also notable to one Bulldog in particular for other reasons. Michaela Twito appeared in her 84th career game wearing the navy and white. She now shares the program record for most games played with Jeannelle Condame and Esther Soenksen.
Concordia ended up putting nine shots on goal, while Bellevue (3-5) managed six. Both teams put up 17 total shots. The Bulldogs goalkeeper Kalie Ward ended the contest with a total of five saves and Bellevue’s Sabrina Staufenbiel made seven saves. The Bruins are now 1-5 against GPAC competition this season.
The Bulldogs look to use the momentum from this game as they head into conference play. Goines believes the back-to-back wins will provide a boost to his squad. “It’s always good to get some confidence. It gives you some validation that the process is working and we’re finding results on the field. We have to continue to grow. While that was a good game, we want to grow beyond this as we move forward."
Concordia will be at Bulldog Stadium on Saturday to take on Mount Marty (1-4, 0-1 GPAC). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT.
Twito breaks program record; McClain scores twice as Bulldogs roll
Sep. 18, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – After a run of close games, the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team broke out on Saturday (Sept. 18) afternoon with a six-goal, first-half explosion in its GPAC opener. Lisa McClain found the back of the net twice while Michaela Twito broke a program record in highlighting a 7-0 win over visiting Mount Marty. The Bulldogs had handed the Lancers a 12-0 defeat last season.
It was an encouraging week of results for Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad, which also celebrated a 2-1 double overtime win at Bellevue University on Wednesday. Concordia has won three in a row to improve to 4-2 (1-0 GPAC).
“It was about focusing and getting a job done,” Goines said. “Every GPAC game we play is a conference championship game. We have to take every game like it means something very important, because it does. We wanted to take control of the game early and they responded well to the challenge.”
Twito has now appeared in more games (85) than any other player in the history of the Bulldog Women’s Soccer program, which held its first season as a varsity sport in 1996. Twito and company dominated possession on Saturday as the ball lived on Concordia’s attacking end. Less than 28 minutes into the game, the Bulldogs owned a 4-0 advantage. McClain drilled a goal apiece in the 25th and 28th minutes.
The hero in Wednesday’s win over Bellevue, Lina Kirst opened up the goal scoring in the sixth minute and Aliyah Aldama followed with a goal in the 14th minute after poking the ball away from the keeper. Just before halftime, the Bulldogs padded the lead when Senna McMullen (first career goal; 44’) and Madeline Haugen (45’) joined in the goal scoring onslaught. Haugen’s goal was particularly noteworthy in how impressively she struck a free kick from roughly 35 yards out. The game’s final goal came thanks to a Lancer miscue, resulting in an own goal in the 68th minute.
Afterwards, Twito was emotional in thinking about all the memories that come with her career games played record. She has played for two GPAC championship teams at Concordia.
Said Twito, “It’s really special – just really special. I’m a big fan of the Bulldog family. I’m proud to be part of it for as long as I have been. I was wondering if I should come back this year or not. It’s been such a God thing. I’m so thankful for this opportunity and the coaches I’ve had. I just have a really grateful heart right now.”
Depending on the opponent, the Bulldogs have switched up their formations in significant ways. Saturday’s match was expected to lead to more attacking options – and it did. Concordia held a shot advantage of 19-5 (12-2 in shots on goal) and outnumbered Mount Marty (1-5, 0-2 GPAC) in corner kicks, 11-0.
“We’ve had to change shape and do some different things to try to find out what works best for this team,” Goines said. “I think we’ve started to come around and figure out what that’s going to look like. Some of the passing patterns and run of play we had were very clean. We were able to press the field more in this game than we have in previous matches.”
The Bulldogs will remain at home and welcome Dordt (5-3, 0-2 GPAC) to Bulldog Stadium for a 5:30 p.m. CT kickoff on Wednesday. Concordia edged the Defenders, 1-0, last season in Sioux Center, Iowa. The lone goal was produced by Cheyenne Smith.
Bulldogs survive second-half barrage, draw with Dordt
Sep. 22, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Visiting Dordt had the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team on its heels in the second half of Wednesday (Sept. 22)’s GPAC battle, but the Bulldogs dodged every bullet fired their way. Concordia’s Grace Soenksen scored an equalizing goal in the 31st minute and the game remained deadlocked the rest of the way. The Bulldogs and Defenders settled for a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes (two overtimes) were played inside Bulldog Stadium.
Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad had begun league play four days earlier with a win over Mount Marty. Concordia (4-2-1, 1-0-1 GPAC) has gone unbeaten (9-0-3) in its last 12 games against GPAC opponents.
“Dordt is physical, they’re fast, they’re very direct,” Goines said. “It was a story of two halves. I thought the first half we did well to maintain possession, keep the game under control and stylistically keep the game where we wanted it. Second half, they made some adjustments and pressed us out. It forced us onto our heels. I’m proud of the girls for how they responded after having to absorb pressure for 20-25 minutes and us being forced into a shape change. The overtimes we played much better.”
The unbeaten streak versus conference foes was in serious danger during a second half that saw the Bulldogs under heavy fire. Dordt attacker Avril Baccam and company know how to stress a back line. Baccam skillfully played around a Concordia center back and pelted a shot inside the right post in the fifth minute, providing an early Defender lead.
An evenly played first half (4-3 Bulldog shot advantage) gave way to 45 minutes controlled by Dordt. A physical and aggressive style frequently had the home team on its back foot. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, most of Dordt’s best chances resulted in shots that were off the mark. Concordia keeper Kalie Ward made three saves while playing all 110 minutes.
On the other end, the Bulldogs put only two shots on frame all night. Soenksen found herself in the right place after multiple deflections that followed Mikeila Martinez’s corner kick in the 31st minute. The Lincoln Lutheran High School product Soenksen has put away three career goals. In the second overtime, Madeline Haugen and Lisa McClain found enough room to fire shots from around the edges of the 18.
Dordt (5-3-1, 0-2-1 GPAC) finished the evening with a 16-9 advantage in shots (13-3 in the second half). The Defenders may have felt like they should have walked away with a win, but there’s something to be said about the grit of all-conference outside back Allee Downing and her Concordia teammates.
Said Downing of what it will take to get back to last season’s heights, “Definitely focus, high intensity and playing a full 90 minutes – because we like to go to overtimes a lot. We have to keep up our energy and stay calm.”
Added Goines, “Every match is going to have to be one where we grow and improve and find a style that we can embrace as our own.”
After back-to-back home games to start GPAC play, the Bulldogs will take to the road on Saturday for a 1 p.m. CT matchup in Orange City, Iowa, with Northwestern (3-6, 0-3 GPAC). Last September, Concordia shut out the Red Raiders, 2-0, in Seward while getting a goal apiece from Soenksen and Kadyn Lane. The Bulldogs have won each of the past three series meetings.
Bulldogs settle for draw after relinquishing two-goal lead
Sep. 25, 2021
ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The Concordia University Women’s Soccer team remained deadlocked with the Northwestern Red Raiders for the final 50 minutes of Saturday (Sept. 25)’s game, which eventually ended in a 2-2 tie following two overtime sessions. Despite a large advantage in shots and in overall possession, the Bulldogs had to settle for the draw. They enjoyed a 2-0 lead just after halftime of action in Orange City, Iowa.
Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad now sits at 4-2-2 overall (1-0-2 GPAC). The draw denied Northwestern of their first conference win as it moves to 3-6-1 (0-3-1 GPAC).
“The first 60 minutes – up until the momentum changed on us – we played a very good game,” Goines said. “We held the ball and moved it as well as we have. We held the run of play until a weird goal and a weird PK. The game became more of a dogfight. That’s what happens in the GPAC when you make mistakes – you make it much harder on yourself. In overtime we responded well.”
Madeline Haugen was the first to find the back of the net for the Bulldogs with a goal in the 40th minute (second of the season). Right out the gate in the second half, Michaela Twito found the bottom right corner off a pass from Aliyah Aldama, for Twito’s first goal of the year.
In the second half, the Red Raiders erased the deficit scoring two goals in a five-minute span, the second goal via penalty kick in the 60th minute. There were some tense moments on both sides during the long stretch of a tie game. The Bulldogs missed out on a number of potential opportunities to find the third goal. The draw keeps alive Concordia’s unbeaten streak against ranked opponents, making it 13 (9-0-4) in a row.
The entire first half was dominated by Concordia, which outshot Northwestern 12-2. The Red Raiders adjusted in the second half outshooting the Bulldogs 12-9 while netting two goals. Concordia goalkeeper Kalie Ward faced seven shots on frame, saving five. Northwestern’s goalkeeper Kaelin Alons was able to keep the Bulldogs offense in check only letting two of 14 shots on goal into the back of the net. Concordia owned an advantage of 25-16 in the overall shot count.
If not for a couple of failed clearances, the Bulldogs would have been celebrating a victory. “I think it was similar,” said Goines in comparing the contest to the draw three days earlier versus Dordt. “We have to find a way to finish off matches and have consistent effort and energy for 90 minutes. Early in the year we struggled in the first part of matches and did better in the second half. We’ve corrected that and have done well in the first half. We have to maintain that momentum. The challenge is growing into that over the course of the year.”
The Bulldogs will return to Bulldog Stadium on Wednesday to face Midland (5-4, 2-1 GPAC). This will be the first matchup between the two teams since last year's GPAC semifinal game. In that contest, Concordia won in dramatic fashion, triumphing on penalty kicks. Wednesday's game is set to kickoff at 5:30 p.m. CT.
Smith nets game winner in return as Bulldogs edge Warriors
Sep. 29, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Cheyenne Smith played hero Wednesday night (Sept. 29), scoring the lone goal for the Concordia University Women's Soccer team. Smith made her presence felt in her first appearance since the season opener. The Bulldogs defense and a fine performance by goalkeeper Kalie Ward kept visiting Midland off the scoreboard in a 1-0 nail-biter between two sides that know each other well.
Head Coach Thomas Goines team improved to 5-2-2 overall (2-0-2 GPAC). Goines knew that defense was going to be key against a worthy adversary.
“(Midland) is very athletic and dangerous especially on the counterattack, so we had to really focus in and lock in defensively all game,” Goines said. “We knew that offensively we may not be as strong going forward, but we really needed to sure up those backlines and manage their attacks and work for our results and find the goal we needed. It worked out today.”
Concordia's team defensive effort held the Warriors in check, only allowing five shots on goal and six shots total for Midland (5-5, 2-2 GPAC). Ward was there to clean up whatever made it past the back line, accumulating five saves in the process. The Bulldogs didn't have much going on offense either, only putting three shots on goal the entire match. Luckily, a hustle goal and a mistake by the Midland goalkeeper were all it took for Concordia to prevail.
Smith was proud of her team’s performance in her return. “Midland’s definitely a top team in our conference, they always are. We really, as a whole team, capitalized on them. We dominated the whole game and had multiple opportunities. Mine was just a capitalization on a mistake, but we had multiple run and play opportunities and I think it will be a good confidence boost going forward.”
Smith’s minutes were limited, but her impact goes beyond just the box score. The native of Alpine, Calif., has the ability to play anywhere on the field. “Cheyenne is the type of the player you just can’t replace. She brings so much athletically, physically and energy-wise off the field that people feed on.”
Goines went on to say that Midland is an opponent you don’t want to see in the postseason. The two teams met last year in the GPAC semifinals. The game was an instant classic as the Bulldogs managed to win on penalty kicks in the process of claiming the GPAC tournament title.
The Bulldogs travel to Mitchell, S.D., on Saturday for an afternoon conference matchup against Dakota Wesleyan. Last year's GPAC quarterfinal was the last time the two teams met. Concordia was victorious in that matchup. The game is set to kick off at 1 p.m. CT.
GPAC unbeaten streak ended in 1-0 loss at Dakota Wesleyan
Oct. 2, 2021
MITCHELL, S.D. – Despite having a decided advantage in possession on Saturday (Oct. 2), the Concordia University Women’s Soccer program saw its unbeaten streak halted by Dakota Wesleyan. A 42nd minute goal was the difference for the Tigers, who were coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to Dordt. The Bulldogs fell by a 1-0 score in a contest played on a grass field at Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell, S.D.
Head Coach Thomas Goines’ program had not been defeated by a GPAC opponent since dropping a 3-0 decision at Morningside on Oct. 7, 2020. Concordia (5-3-2, 2-1-2 GPAC) proceeded to go 10-0-4 in its next 14 outings against conference foes.
“We did some of our best work this season in terms of keeping the ball,” Goines said. “We did really well side-to-side and created opportunities on the wing. It was one of those days where we were doing mostly what we wanted. Dakota Wesleyan has some athletic kids and we were trying to keep them out of space. We had a bad turnover and they got us on a counterattack. We had the ball for a large portion of it, we just weren’t able to find the back of the net.”
The Bulldogs put 10 shots on goal, including four from Aliyah Aldama. Down 1-0 at the break, Concordia came out of halftime and exercised control (10-3 shot advantage over the final 45 minutes). The Bulldogs just couldn’t break the goal line. Tiger keeper Hannah Trumbull made 10 saves in the process of recording the clean sheet.
The game’s only goal was delivered by Jozy Bardsley, who scored just before halftime. The contest was reminiscent of last season’s regular season meeting in Seward when DWU also won by a 1-0 final score. Concordia then got its revenge by defeating the Tigers, 2-1, in the GPAC quarterfinals.
For the second game in a row, Cheyenne Smith saw action off the bench for the Bulldogs. She was credited with three shots on goal in limited minutes. Smith emerged with the game-winning goal in Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Midland. At keeper, Kalie Ward played all 90 minutes and collected six saves. Concordia used a fairly typical starting 11 of veteran players, with the exception of freshman Taylor Slaymaker.
This one will go down in the frustrating category of defeats. The Bulldogs felt like they played well enough to win – they continue to seek more consistency on the attack.
Said Goines, “Second half – we dominated possession and moved the ball how we wanted to move it. We had a few one-on-ones with the keeper and couldn’t finish. Credit to Dakota Wesleyan. They saw the game out, they defended and absorbed our pressure. We just weren’t dynamic enough in the final third.”
Concordia will return home on Wednesday to host Morningside (5-2-1, 2-1-1 GPAC) at 5:30 p.m. CT. The Mustangs shared second place with the Bulldogs in last season’s GPAC regular season standings. Concordia will attempt to knock off Morningside for the first time since the 2018 GPAC quarterfinals.
Haugen golden goal sends Dawgs to first win over Morningside since 2018
Oct. 6, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – There would be no settling for a draw as the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team played an overtime contest for the fourth time this season. The Bulldogs celebrated in the 97th minute when Madeline Haugen delivered the golden goal on a breakaway. Haugen immediately leapt into the arms of teammate Mikeila Martinez in the afterglow of a 2-1 victory over Morningside inside Bulldog Stadium on Wednesday (Oct. 6) evening.
This may have been the most significant win of the season for Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad. The Mustangs entered the night ranked third in the official GPAC poll. Concordia effectively shook off its loss at Dakota Wesleyan over the weekend and moved to 6-3-2 overall (3-1-2 GPAC).
“It was a really good match between two good teams,” Goines said. “First half, I thought we played probably some of our best soccer all year and controlled good portions of the run of play. We knew Morningside would come out and press us. They came out (in the second half) and gave us everything we could handle – shape change and tactical changes.
“There’s a mentality of winning as opposed to trying not to lose. We were able to come out and have some good fortune in overtime.”
It would have been a shame to waste such an impressive first-half performance. The Bulldogs put seven shots on the board before the Mustangs could manage even one. Concordia got an early lead when Aliyah Aldama (assisted by Michaela Twito) found a clear shot in the box and proceeded to drill a missile into the back of the net. Aldama and company enjoyed a 1-0 all the way from the 16th minute to the 79th minute.
Morningside turned the tables via Sina Freeser’s goal with just over 11 minutes remaining in regulation. The Mustangs had finally cashed in after taking control of the second half. For the most part, the Bulldog back line held up well under pressure. Only one of the nine shots Morningside totaled in the second half were on goal. The strike by Freeser was a laser tucked inside the right post.
In overtime, Concordia did not mount much on the attack until the game winner. A poor touch by Morningside allowed Lina Kirst and Haugen to go on the run. A perfectly executed pass from Kirst led Haugen into the box for a one-on-one with the keeper. Haugen calmly slotted the ball across the goal line.
Said Haugen, “I held my breath the whole time and I said, ‘If I miss, I’m going to cry myself to sleep tonight’ … It just feels so amazing. We hadn’t beat Morningside since 2018 so we came out here and wanted to say we did everything we could to come out with the win.”
The Bulldogs avenged last season’s 3-0 loss at Morningside (6-3-1, 3-2-1 GPAC) with a team effort. The Mustangs finished with a 17-12 advantage in shots, but Concordia had the edge in shots on goal, 8-3. In one particular instance, the Bulldogs breathed a sigh of relief when they avoided trouble on a dangerous cross with keeper Kalie Ward drawn away from the goal. Ward made two saves on the night.
Said Goines, “This gives your team the idea that we’re on the right track. I think we’ve played well the last four matches. We’re leading into a strong Jamestown team. They’re going to be a challenge in every area of the field.”
Saturday’s battle with the Jimmies (11-0, 6-0 GPAC) will get started at 4 p.m. CT in Jamestown, N.D. Jamestown has not lost since getting clipped by Concordia, 2-1, in last season’s GPAC tournament title game.
Rematch of spring GPAC title game won by Jimmies
Oct. 9, 2021
JAMESTOWN, N.D. – In a rematch of the GPAC tournament championship game played this past spring, the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team gave a strong account of itself. The Bulldogs were unable to duplicate the 2-1 triumph they celebrated back on April 9, but they went toe-to-toe with undefeated Jamestown on a soggy Saturday (Oct. 9) evening in North Dakota. Cassandra Diaz’s goal in the 46th minute proved the difference in a 1-0 decision.
It was a solid week for Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad, which earned a 2-1 overtime victory over Morningside on Wednesday. Concordia now stands at 6-4-2 overall and at 3-2-2 within the GPAC.
“It was a competitive game,” Goines said. “Jamestown is very fast, physical and very direct and technical. They challenge you at almost every level of the field. I was very happy with our effort today. It wasn’t a pretty game where you connect a lot of passes. It was about putting in the effort and fighting for 90 minutes. Rocket (Kalie Ward) came up big with a couple saves in the run of play. We had to make some adjustments with players who got injured. All the girls who stepped in were able to play well.”
The aforementioned goal was aided by a deflection off of a Bulldog defenders’ foot. It made for a difficult reaction for Ward in goal. Diaz (11 goals on the season) celebrated the goal in the 46th minute. There was no margin for error on a night when Concordia was held without a shot in the second half. Jamestown finished with advantages of 11-4 in shots (6-3 in shots on goal) and 5-1 in corner kicks. Ward came through five saves in her 90 minutes.
Aliyah Aldama, Ellie Eason and Bethany Fuchs were credited with one shot on goal apiece. Jimmie keeper Alex Nowka made three saves while recording the clean sheet. This marked Jamestown’s second shutout within conference play.
On the other hand, the Jimmies (12-0, 7-0 GPAC) had tallied at least two goals in each of their prior six GPAC games. Jamestown has not lost since last season’s GPAC title game and was situated just outside of the NAIA top 25 in the latest poll.
Said Goines, “You can’t take away negatives from this week at all. It would have been great to come out with a tie or win tonight. We knew this was a challenging week. I was very happy with the girls’ resolve and ability to play against some of the best in the GPAC and get results. We really fought this past week.”
The Bulldogs will return to action on Wednesday by hosting College of Saint Mary (6-5-1, 4-2 GPAC), another team sitting near the top of the league standings. Kickoff from Bulldog Stadium is set for 7 p.m. CT. In last season’s meeting in Omaha, Concordia won, 1-0, in overtime via the golden goal delivered by Cheyenne Smith.
Martinez goal, clean sheet pushes gritty Dawgs up GPAC standings
Oct. 13, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Every time out, this Concordia University Women’s Soccer team keeps you on pins and needles. Yet another close call came down to an early second half goal from Mikeila Martinez as the Bulldogs celebrated a 1-0 win over visiting College of Saint Mary on Wednesday (Oct. 13). On a chilly and breezy evening, Concordia improved its home mark to 5-1-1.
Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad will be working on locking up a spot in the GPAC tournament over the second half of October. At least for the moment, the Bulldogs (7-4-2, 4-2-2 GPAC) stand in third place with 14 points towards the conference standings.
“I think we did a good job trying to stay true to who we are,” Goines said. “We did a pretty good job holding onto the ball and maintaining what we wanted to do the entire match. Certainly College of Saint Mary is well-coached and they’re having a good year. They have athletes up front that challenged our back line consistently. We held to our game plan and it worked out in the end. A lot of our upperclassmen showed very strong.”
One week earlier at Bulldog Stadium, Concordia celebrated Madeline Haugen’s golden goal to beat Morningside. In this instance, Haugen played a ball through to fellow California native Martinez in the 51st minute. After getting in behind the Flames defenders, Martinez simply tapped the ball past the drawn-out keeper. It marked Martinez’s third goal this season and 12th of her career (five career game-winners).
Talk about living on the edge. The Bulldogs have played in seven straight conference games that have either been decided by one-goal margins or in draws (three have gone to overtime). It’s safe to say Concordia has gotten accustomed to the nail-biters.
Said Martinez, “It just shows that we have grit, that we’re fighting for the whole 90 and just trying to get that goal. We’re going to compete – and everyone’s got to watch out for Concordia.”
The Bulldogs had the better of possession overall and enjoyed a shot advantage of 14-7 (11-4 in shots on goal). At keeper, Kalie Ward collected four saves while earning the clean sheet. Concordia blanked CSM while shuffling the back line a bit. The Bulldogs still have all-conference standouts Allee Downing and Grace Soenksen to lean upon in the back. They helped keep the Flames’ Abbey Wilson (10 goals this season) from getting loose.
“That’s been our character for the last two years, since I’ve been here,” Goines said. “We don’t necessarily have the highest-powered offense, but we do a good job of defending, organizing and keeping the ball. The girls just have a grit about them. They don’t like to lose. They don’t want to lose. That competitiveness about them has allowed them to have the success they’ve had over the last few years.”
After the top two teams in the GPAC (Briar Cliff and Jamestown), the standings are a muddled mess. As the current third-place team, Concordia is one of seven squads separated by only four points. Four games remain on the regular season slate for Goines’ crew. CSM (6-6-1, 4-3 GPAC) is now tied for sixth with 12 points.
The Bulldogs will renew their rivalry with Hastings (8-4-1, 4-3-1 GPAC) on Saturday when the two teams square off at 5:30 p.m. CT from Lloyd Wilson Field. Concordia won last season’s matchup in Seward, 1-0. In the not-so-distant past, the two programs met up in the 2017 and 2018 GPAC tournament championship games.
Goal in 88th minute sinks Concordia in rivalry matchup
Oct. 16, 2021
HASTINGS, Neb. – One of the league’s most intense rivalries came down to a single goal in the 88th minute as the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team met up with Hastings on Saturday (Oct. 16) night. The Bulldogs have gotten comfortable playing in GPAC nail-biters, but it was the Broncos who came away with a 1-0 victory at Lloyd Wilson Field, the scene of Concordia’s very first GPAC championship (back in 2014). Dekota Schubert’s header proved the difference.
Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad has seen five of its last six games be decided by 1-0 final scores. As of this moment, the Bulldogs (7-5-2, 4-3-2 GPAC) reside in seventh place in the still cloudy GPAC standings.
“I thought the first half we played an even match,” Goines said. “They obviously had a handful more chances and we’ve struggled to get into that final third and create opportunities. That shows up when you’re playing really good teams. They certainly prevented us from creating many chances. Second half, they pressed us out in the middle of the field and made it very hard for us to build and keep the ball.
Concordia struggled most of the night from an attacking perspective, managing just a single shot (Cheyenne Smith in the seventh minute) and none on goal. For Hastings (9-4-1, 5-3-1 GPAC), that type of stinginess defensively was a continuation of recent outings. The Broncos have not allowed a goal in regulation over their past four games. The frustration for Hastings was simply the effort it took to find the back of the net against a Bulldog team that has made its identity as a gritty outfit.
A key for Concordia in hanging with the best the GPAC has to offer has been the play of a back line headlined by the likes of Allee Downing and Grace Soenksen. Schubert is a difficult opponent to keep in check. Her game-winning header gave Bulldog keeper Kalie Ward no chance. It was an overall strong performance once again for Ward, who made six saves while thwarting several dangerous chances.
Said Goines, “Our back line has held up well. Through some injuries we’ve been forced to change the players in the back line and even in the number of players in the back line. It’s put them under pressure. The fact we’ve only given up two goals over the last three games with that many changes – against some very good teams – I’m really happy with how they’ve held together. On the other half of the field, we have to find a way to be more dynamic.”
The Broncos finished with a 15-1 shot advantage (7-0 in shots on goal). Concordia had an edge in corner kicks, 4-2. Hastings (tied for third in the GPAC) effectively avenged their 1-0 loss from last season in Seward. The two programs met in GPAC tournament championship games as recently as 2017 and 2018.
The Bulldogs will hit the road again on Wednesday when they will be at defending GPAC regular season champion Briar Cliff (11-1, 9-0 GPAC) for a 2 p.m. CT kickoff in Sioux City, Iowa. The Chargers will attempt to avenge the 1-0 loss they endured last season in Seward. Concordia has won back-to-back meetings with Briar Cliff.
Concordia shut out by GPAC leading Briar Cliff
Oct. 20, 2021
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Concordia University Women’s Soccer team came up empty as it traveled to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on GPAC leader Briar Cliff on Wednesday (Oct. 20). The Bulldogs were shut out for their second consecutive match, falling, 3-0, in a contest played at Memorial Field due to a late location change. Concordia could not contain the offensive exploits of Flor Suarez.
Head Coach Thomas Goines's squad fell to 7-6-2 overall (4-4-2 GPAC) with only two games left in the regular season. Briar Cliff improved its already impressive record to 11-1 overall as they sit atop the GPAC (10-0 leaugue mark) heading down the final stretch of the season.
“I thought we limited their good, quality scoring chances,” Goines said. “It took a special player like Flor Suarez to break us down on some really quality finishes. That was really the difference. They had a special player who had a special day. The run of play was fairly even. We created a handful of chances and just couldn’t put anything in the back of the net.”
The impenetrable Briar Cliff defense made it hard for Concordia to get shots off, only managing to put up three shots compared to the Chargers’ 10. The Bulldogs had won the previous two meetings with Briar Cliff, winning in a 1-0 nail-biter last season in Seward. This was a homecoming for Sioux City East High School alum Alle Downing, a central figure for the Concordia back line.
There wasn't much to look at on paper for the Bulldogs from an attacking perspective. Concordia goalkeeper Kalie Ward made two saves out of five shots on goal. The Briar Cliff defense was aggressive and physical, mounting up a total of 11 fouls. Chargers’ goalkeeper Darrien Sclafani continued her stellar year with two saves while earning credit for the shutout. The Bulldogs back line had its hands full with Suarez, the reigning GPAC Offensive Player of the Year. She was the star for Briar Cliff netting, two goals and an assist in the contest. The Chargers got their goals in the 16th, 44th and 54th minutes.
“We talked to them afterwards and it’s obviously disappointing to lose at Hastings and then here,” Goines said. “Briar Cliff presented a challenge that we knew about coming into it. Going forward, the playoffs start now. We have to win to stay in the fight. We don’t have the luxury of worrying about what seed we are – we have to win two games to guarantee we get into the conference tournament. Our playoffs start now so that’s how we have to approach the rest of the season.”
The Bulldogs will travel back to Seward for their final home game of the regular season, featuring a matchup with Presentation (2-8-1, 1-7 GPAC). Concordia has dominated the Saints, outscoring them 14-0 in their past three meetings. The contest will take place inside Bulldog Stadium at 5:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. A group of seven Bulldog seniors will be recognized prior to kickoff.
Bulldogs record clean sheet in senior day win
Oct. 24, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – The score line didn’t show it, but the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team dominated Presentation on Saturday (Oct. 23) evening while improving to 6-1-1 at home this season. The Bulldogs got both of their goals after halftime and saw out a 2-0 victory. Grace Soenksen and Madeline Haugen produced a goal apiece as Concordia celebrated senior day on the final home date of the regular season.
Every game matters when it comes to jockeying for positioning within the GPAC standings. Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad ended the day in sixth place in the GPAC with a league mark of 5-4-2 (8-6-2 overall).
“I think it was probably one of our most complete games,” Goines said. “Presentation is far more organized, fast and athletic than they were a year ago. It took us a lot to limit their opportunities on the counterattack. We had to lean on our possession and our counter-press a lot today. Both of those things were on full display. For 90 minutes, that’s about as complete as we’ve put together as far as creating opportunities and transitioning in both offense and defense.”
This game was a rather sharp contrast to the loss three days earlier at Briar Cliff. The Bulldogs were the aggressor on Saturday while holding advantages of 24-2 in shots and 9-0 in corner kicks. Despite a 9-1 shot lead at half, Concordia found itself in a 0-0 stalemate. That changed in the 46th minute when Soenksen put away a goal off a corner (delivered by Mikeila Martinez) in the 47th minute. One of the seven seniors, Haugen rifled a shot off a defender for a goal in the 64th minute.
The ball lived in the Bulldogs’ attacking third, making for a quiet night for goalkeeper Kalie Ward, who made two saves on her way to a shutout. Ward spent a lot of time watching Haugen (nine shots) carve up the opposition’s back line. There were multiple occasions when Concordia had a near goal hit off the crossbar or post. Seniors such as Martinez and Cheyenne Smith made strong runs at goals of their own.
A native of Cheyenne, Wyo., Ward has emerged as the starting keeper in 2021 after biding her time behind four-year starter Lindsey Carley. With the help of Ward, the Bulldogs have limited their GPAC opponents to either one or no goals in nine separate outings.
“You realize it’s more than just on the field, it’s off the field too,” said Ward in reflection of senior day. “For me, senior night was about celebrating the seniors I came in with as freshmen. All of our memories and our times together – that’s what I’ll value the most. I just love them and I love this team. They really made senior night special for us.”
Concordia wound up with a 10-versus-nine advantage for the final 32-plus minutes of the contest. The Saints (2-10-1, 1-9 GPAC) did not register a single shot during that stretch.
The Bulldogs will close the regular season on Wednesday with a short drive to Doane (3-11-1, 1-8-1 GPAC) for a 5:30 p.m. CT kickoff in Crete. In last season’s meeting, Concordia pummeled the Tigers, 7-0.
Twito, Dawgs head into postseason with a win
Oct. 27, 2021
CRETE, Neb. – The Concordia University Women’s Soccer team defeated Doane on Wednesday night (Oct. 27) in its final regular-season contest to clinch a spot in the GPAC tournament. On a rainy night, the Bulldog defense was impenetrable, shutting out their opponent for the second straight game and securing the 1-0 victory. This also marks the ninth consecutive win against their conference foe. Michaela Twito scored the lone goal in the match while notching the fourth game-winner of her standout career.
Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad ended the regular season at 9-6-2 overall and 6-4-2 in the GPAC. Pending the results this weekend, Concordia could place as high as fifth in the final conference standings.
“Obviously the weather plays a factor,” Goines said. “It rained throughout and was one of those games where it’s not going to be pretty soccer for either team. First half, I thought we did really well in managing the game. Second half, you have to give credit to Doane. They outworked us for a large portion of it and we didn’t match their energy. The game became a little bit ugly. We were forced to defend our lead, which we were able to do. We didn’t give up many major chances. We’ll take the win any day in rainy, cold conditions.”
The stat line showed just how stellar Concordia’s defense was holding the Tigers to just seven shots, compared to the Bulldogs’ 12. Doane only managed three shots on goal, all of which were saved by goalkeeper Kalie Ward. ‘Rocket’ made a diving save on a free kick at the end of the first half and denied an attack from the Tigers in the 86th minute.
Tiger goalkeeper Danielle Dubovy had a solid night picking up four saves, but Twito would not be denied in her final regular-season game as a Bulldog, finding the back of the net in the 44th minute. Two years earlier, Twito surfaced with the golden goal to knock off Doane in double overtime.
Concordia will have the weekend off and start to prepare for the. GPAC tournament. The opponent for the Bulldogs quarterfinal match has yet to be determined but will be a road game next Thursday (Nov. 4). Goines believes his side has earned some much-needed time off.
Said Goines, “I think it's good to have a few days to decompress, focus on school and enjoy a weekend to themselves. It's going to be good for them to have a little rest. We'll figure out who our opponent is soon and we'll refocus on trying to find our way through the playoffs. This is the second season so now we have to try to figure out how to win one game at a time. That's the mentality, but for now, we'll enjoy having another winning season.”
As for Doane, its season will end on Saturday when it hosts Northwestern. At 3-12-1 overall (1-9-1 GPAC), the Tigers are not in the running for a postseason berth.
Bulldogs eliminated from postseason by rival Broncos
Nov. 4, 2021
HASTINGS, Neb. – After surrendering a goal in the eighth minute, the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team never could find the back of the net in Thursday (Nov. 4) night’s GPAC quarterfinal clash in Hastings, Neb. Just like in the regular season, the third-seeded Broncos dealt the sixth-seeded Bulldogs a 1-0 defeat. Concordia had hoped to rekindle its magic from the GPAC tournament title run it celebrated back in the spring.
Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad made its identity this season on being a tough and gritty defensive-minded bunch. The goals were hard to come by for both the Bulldogs and their opponents in 2021. Concordia ended the season at 9-7-2 overall.
The campaign concluded with a solid performance versus a hot opponent. Said Goines, “I thought tonight was night and day from the last time we played Hastings at their place. I couldn’t be more proud of the girls. They gave their most complete game from start to finish. We controlled the run of play for potions of the match. Second half, we dominated the ball. First half, we hit the post and second half we just weren’t able to finish in front of the goal. Our team did everything we asked. We just didn’t come out on the right side of the result.”
Hastings (13-4-1) has hit its stride at the right time, but it got pushed by the Bulldogs at Lloyd Wilson Field. Concordia owned slight advantages in shots, 10-9, shots on goal, 6-5, and corner kicks, 5-4, in a contest that was played evenly. Bronco keeper Sofie Jackson-Pederson notched six saves while preserving the clean sheet. Both Madeline Haugen and Michaela Twito put three shots on frame for the Bulldogs.
In the Concordia-Hastings matchup played on Oct. 16, Dekota Schubert came through with the game-winning goal in the 88th minute of a match that also ended in a 1-0 final score. History repeated itself Thursday, although Schubert found the back of the net much earlier this time around. She was responsible for more than half the shots her team attempted on Thursday. The Broncos will carry a seven-game win streak into the GPAC semifinals.
For a side that often had their challenges on the attack, the Bulldogs went toe-to-toe with the top teams in the conference. Almost every outing was a close one, no matter the opponent. Six of the final nine games of the 2021 season were decided by 1-0 scores. Only twice in conference play did Concordia concede more than two goals. All-conference defenders Allee Downing and Grace Soenksen played a major role in those results – as did first-year starting keeper Kalie Ward.
Thursday marked the final game in the careers of several Concordia seniors, including fifth-year member of the program Michaela Twito whose 97 career games played are a program record. The senior group includes 2020 All-GPAC performers in Mikeila Martinez (first team), Madeline Haugen (honorable mention) and Cheyenne Smith (honorable mention). Haugen led the team with four goals this season. In terms of younger talent, freshman Taylor Slaymaker stood out as someone who earned her way into the starting lineup.
Said Goines, “When you look at the number of players and rotations we used throughout the season, I don’t think it would be a stretch to say this team performed above the challenges they had in front of them. We were searching for consistency from day one and our players met the challenges. The amount of adversity this program has fought through over the last year-and-a-half is something worth celebrating.”
During last season’s GPAC postseason championship run, the Bulldogs advanced past Dakota Wesleyan, Midland and Jamestown. Concordia had played Hastings in GPAC tournament championship games in 2014, 2017 and 2018. The bid for the program’s fifth all-time conference championship will have to wait until 2022.
Martinez, Twito collect CoSIDA Academic All-District honors
Nov. 11, 2021
2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District Soccer Teams
SEWARD, Neb. – A pair of standouts from the Concordia University Women’s Soccer program were honored on Thursday (Nov. 11) by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The organization selected both Mikeila Martinez and Michaela Twito as Academic All-District® Women's Soccer Team award winners. Martinez and Twito were placed on the All-District 3 team, which covers the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
The 2021 Academic All-District® Women’s Soccer Teams, selected by CoSIDA, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes women's soccer honorees in four divisions — NAIA, NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III.
A native of Fairfield, Calif., Martinez has earned All-District accolades for the first time in her career. A four-year starter, Martinez finished the 2021 season with three goals and four assists. She was named a First Team All-GPAC honoree for the 2020 squad that won the GPAC tournament title. Over 72 career collegiate games, Martinez totaled 12 goals. She is a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete and has twice been named to the Omaha World-Herald’s All-Nebraska team. Martinez studies Public Health and Fitness.
A five-year mainstay in the program, Twito has garnered CoSIDA Academic All-District selection for a second year in a row. The native of Ames, Iowa, will leave Concordia as the program’s all-time record holder for games played with 97. A holding midfielder, Twito was named an All-GPAC honoree four times (second team in 2019) and is a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete. Twito totaled eight goals and four assists in her career. She played for two separate teams that won GPAC championships (2017 regular season and 2020 postseason). Twito earned her degrees in Spanish and Secondary Education from Concordia.
First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in early December.
All-Time Concordia Women’s Soccer All-District Honorees
Lindsey Carley (2018, *2020)
Maria Deeter (*2018)
Emily Fleming (2012)
Mikeila Martinez (2021)
Rachel Mussell (2012, 2013, *2014)
Melissa Stine (2014)
Michaela Twito (2020, 2021)
*Academic All-American
Soenksen, Haugen highlight All-GPAC honor roll
Nov. 15, 2021
2021 Women’s Soccer All-GPAC Teams
First Team: Grace Soenksen
Second Team: Madeline Haugen
Honorable Mention: Allee Downing, Mikeila Martinez, Kalie Ward
SEWARD, Neb. – A group of five Bulldogs represented the Concordia University Women’s Soccer program on the list of 2021 all-conference honorees released on Monday (Nov. 15) by the GPAC. In highlighting the award winners, Grace Soenksen garnered first team recognition and Madeline Haugen landed on the second team. Honorable mention accolades went to Allee Downing, Mikeila Martinez and Kalie Ward.
A three-year starter, Soenksen has been named First Team All-GPAC for a second year in a row (tabbed Honorable Mention All-GPAC in 2019). The Lincoln Lutheran High School alum has been a standout at center back and a major reason why the program has excelled defensively in recent seasons. The 2020 GPAC tournament championship team allowed only one goal over 19 games while the 2021 squad surrendered 20 goals during an 18-game slate. Soenksen also chipped in with two goals this fall – one of which was a game winner – while starting all 18 matches.
Haugen moves up to the conference’s second team after garnering Honorable Mention All-GPAC laurels last season. While playing 17 games (14 starts), Haugen led the team with four goals, in addition to two assists. In one of the more memorable moments of the season, Haugen emerged with the golden goal in the 2-1 overtime win over Morningside on Oct. 6. The native of San Diego, Calif., has been a key on-field contributor all four years having played in 71 games. She’s posted nine goals and nine assists as a Bulldog.
Downing has been one of the league’s top outside backs over the past two seasons. The Sioux City, Iowa, native was named Second Team All-GPAC last season. Like Soenksen, Downing has had a big impact on Concordia’s ability to limit the opposing teams’ attacks. Downing started all 18 games in 2021 and all 19 games during the 2020 GPAC tournament championship season. Consistently reliable, Downing has not missed a single game in her three seasons as a Bulldog.
Recently named a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree, Martinez has earned all-conference recognition for a second-straight year. The native of Fairfield, Calif., led the 2020 team with seven goals and was named First Team All-GPAC. This past season, Martinez started all 18 games and totaled three goals (two game winners) and four assists. Martinez immediately impacted the program when she arrived and has recorded 12 goals and 12 assists over 72 career games played.
Ward, who hails from Cheyenne, Wyo., stepped into a starting role for the first time while taking over the goalkeeper role in 2021. She responded by making 68 saves and picking up four shutouts in 17 games (17 starts). Ward played in 1,543 minutes and sported a save percentage of .782 and a goals against average of 1.11. Also known as “Rocket,” Ward made a career high eight saves versus Benedictine College (Kan.) on Sept. 8.
Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad finished the 2021 season at 9-7-2 overall and in sixth place in the GPAC regular season standings. The campaign came to an end in the GPAC quarterfinals.
Season-In-Review: 2021 Concordia Women's Soccer
Nov. 29, 2021
For the most part, the 2021 Concordia University Women’s Soccer team carried over the formula used during the previous spring that carried the Bulldogs to a GPAC tournament championship. Grit and hard-nosed, defensive-minded play allowed Concordia to compete with anyone in the GPAC. Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad often walked a tight rope and even won two games in overtime in 2021.
Ultimately, the Bulldogs fell to Hastings, 1-0, in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. That type of result became the norm this fall.
“If we didn’t have the senior leadership we had it might have been a tougher year,” Goines said. “The players who have been here and been part of titles and playoff runs really helped us stay together and fight through those matches. We were not an offensive team, but we took on an identity of a team that could battle in close matches and find a result more often than not. That was our personality with this year’s team – gritty. We had to find results in tight games. It’s hard to think of a game where I felt super comfortable the whole way through. That one-goal lead can disappear pretty quick. I was happy with our fight.”
Concordia battled its way to a 9-7-2 final overall record. Thirteen of 18 games were decided by one-goal margins or in draws. Seven of the season’s final 10 outings ended with 1-0 final scores. Thrills came in the form of golden goals produced by Lina Kirst in the 2-1 victory at Bellevue and by Madeline Haugen in the 2-1 win over Morningside. In addition, the Bulldogs gave a strong push to GPAC champion Jamestown (undefeated in GPAC play) in a 1-0 defeat in North Dakota.
Throughout the campaign, Concordia made it a challenge for opponents to put the ball in the back of the net. Behind standout center back Grace Soenksen, the Bulldogs conceded a total of 20 goals for the season. All-conference awards were handed out to Soenksen (first team), Haugen (second team), Allee Downing (honorable mention), Mikeila Martinez (honorable mention) and Kalie Ward (honorable mention).
On senior day that saw a win over Presentation, Concordia celebrated a class that included not only Haugen, Martinez and Ward, but also Bethany Fuchs, Callie McNary, Sydney Rogers and Cheyenne Smith. In another memorable moment, Smith returned from injury and came through with the game-winning goal in the 1-0 win over Midland. A fifth-year member of the program, Michaela Twito will depart after playing in a school record 97 career games. She served as a central figure on two separate GPAC championship teams.
Said Goines of the seniors, “You can’t say enough about them. They’ve been through this. A lot of them played in 50, 60 or 70 games. It tells you the impact they have had on the program. They’ve grown into it and helped the program develop an identity. They’ve gone through three coaches in their careers – and COVID. You couldn’t ask for more from a group of women that have been so successful. It’s too small to just say, ‘thank you,’ but it’s the only thing we can say as they move on to another part of their lives.”
It was a grind on the attack for the Bulldogs, who put away 23 goals on the year. Haugen was the team leader with four goals while Martinez added three goals and four assists. One of the great stories that emerged in the fall was the play of Ward at keeper. She was tasked with replacing four-year starter Lindsey Carley and rose to the challenge by posting a save percentage of .782 and goals against average of 1.11. Among freshmen, Kearney, Neb., Taylor Slaymaker made the largest impact while earning a starting role as an outside back.
It will be players like Slaymaker who will have the opportunity to take ownership of future Concordia squads that will attempt to put the program back in the running for conference championships. Said Goines, “As much as you’re sad about the players moving on, it creates a huge opportunity for the younger players who have been waiting for their time. This group is very excited about showing that it’s their turn to continue the excellent tradition we have here. We’re going to see how that battle shapes up – and we’re excited about the incoming class as well. We want to give everyone a chance to rest mentally and physically and then hit the gas hard this winter and try to create a new identity. We want to maintain that gritty, hard-working and competitive attitude and continue to develop the skillful and attacking side of things.”
Unlike this past season, the Bulldogs will have a more normal offseason as they look ahead to 2022. The deep postseason run of April 2021 meant there was less focus on individual skill development. The aim during that time was to find a way to continue to survive and advance. The spring semester of 2022 will provide a more relaxed environment conducive to across-the-board improvement. Despite an abrupt GPAC tournament exit, the program will move forward with many positive takeaways from 2021.
“It was a fun ride,” Goines said. “We had high expectations and the girls met that from a competitive sense. Certainly we wanted to make a deeper run in the playoffs, but they competed all year and came together to be such a close-knit group and family. I’m just really proud to be part of it.”