SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia Women’s Soccer releases its 2024 schedule for the upcoming season. The 17-contest rundown starts on Aug. 28 versus Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. Head Coach Nick Smith will enter his second year as the leader of the Bulldogs, after going 13-4-3 overall and 8-1-3 in the GPAC in year one. The slate includes six non-conference opponents and 11 matches in the conference.
With nine games away, three of the out of the first four games are on the road. New opponents’ unseen from last year are Columbia College (Mo.) on Aug. 31, Bellevue University on Sept. 4 and Dakota State University (S.D.) on Sept. 7. Concordia Women’s Soccer will compete against Columbia and Dakota State for the first time in the program’s history.
Notable in-conference matchups to look out for is the GPAC opener versus Northwestern (Sept. 18). The Bulldogs will also take on Briar Cliff, on homecoming, (Sept. 28) and Morningside on senior day (Oct. 12). CUNE will finish its regular season with Midland (Oct. 30) at Bulldog Stadium.
Concordia ended the GPAC regular season in second place (8-1-3) and will return many of its prominent players from a year ago. The Bulldogs will field First Team All-GPAC Savannah Andrews, Kierstynn Garner, Hannah Kile and Niah Kirchner. They will also bring back Sierra Springer (second team), Bradi Ore (honorable mention) and Taylor Slaymaker (honorable mention).
The Bulldogs will compete without 2023 GPAC Defensive Player of the Year Grace Soenksen for the first time in five years. The Lincoln, Neb., star plans to be around the program as Concordia loses assistant coaches Michael McIntyre and Mellonee Hall.
Nonconference opponents (as of May 10)
· Graceland University (Iowa)
· Columbia College (Mo.)
· Bellevue University
· Dakota State University (S.D.)
· Benedictine College (Kan.)
· York University