Soenksen’s first career multi-goal game powers blowout road win

STERLING, Kan. – After suffering three-straight losses by a single goal, the Concordia University men’s soccer team dominated Friday’s contest in earning a 4-1 victory over host Sterling College (0-4) in Sterling, Kan. Junior Gideon Soenksen enjoyed a big evening, notching his first career multi-goal game as well as an assist to fuel the Bulldogs in their first true road game of 2014.

Seventh-year head coach Jason Weides’ squad bumped its overall record to 2-3 on the season.

“We did well in possession and really moved the ball,” Weides said. “We were able to spread things all over the field. Sterling was constantly chasing the ball. Once we got that first goal we really took control.”

The game went deep into the first half before junior forward Dean Stevens found the back of the net in the 37th minute for his first goal of the season and seventh of his career. That score, assisted by senior Chris DeFeyter, set off the dominoes as the Bulldogs poured it on in a big second half.

Soenksen got his first of two goals in the 48th minute with an impressive finish after a deflection off the post. The Lincoln native drilled a bicycle kick for what Weides called a “really well taken goal.” Roughly 12 minutes later he scored again off the assist from senior Daniel Moore. Soenksen’s three goals on the season are already a career high. He drilled two goals in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.

“He’s in a more advanced position compared to last year when he was playing outside back,” Weides said of Soenksen. “He definitely has the ability to score and set other people up.

“But honestly, we had guys playing well all over the field. They really stepped up and were ready to play today.”

Then in the 65th minute, junior midfielder Marcelino Varona got on the board with his first career goal. The native of Olathe, Kan., snuck behind the Sterling defense, found himself one-on-one with Warrior keeper Nick Seeley and calmly tucked the ball inside the right post.

Varona’s goal sealed up the victory and provided the type of comfortable margin the Bulldogs had hoped for after three-consecutive gut-wrenching defeats.

“We knew we were one game away from turning things around,” Weides said. “This is a real confidence booster. We feel really good about this performance. We put away goals and a lot of different guys contributed. This definitely will help us build confidence.”

The only thing to go wrong on Friday was a late own goal that prevented Concordia from locking up its second shutout of the season. It was an otherwise great day for senior goalkeeper Brendan Buchanan, who made seven saves while playing all 90 minutes.

The shot count of 16-12 in favor of the Bulldogs did not necessarily reflect how thoroughly Concordia outplayed its foe from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Several Warrior shots came late with the game already in hand for the Bulldogs.

Stevens piled up the most shots of any player in the game with five. Soenksen was particularly efficient with two of his three shots going for goals.

The Bulldogs continue play from the state of Kansas on Saturday when they battle Friends University at 4 p.m. The Falcons are 2-1 with victories over Bacone (Okla.) and Oklahoma Wesleyan. A live webcast will be available HERE.

“Friends is a good team,” Weides said. “They will really challenge us. They beat us 3-0 last year by scoring some quick goals. They beat the No. 4 team in the nation so it’s a really tough test. It only gets more difficult for us.”