SEWARD, Neb. – The Bulldogs earned the No. 2 seed after a miracle last second score by Kierstynn Garner and will be hosting the No. 7 seed College of Saint Mary on Tuesday (Nov. 4). Concordia University, Nebraska has taken the second spot for the last three GPAC tournaments and all of Head Coach Nick Smith’s tenure. CUNE has earned a 12-1-5 overall record with only one loss in the regular season for the first time in program history.
Next Match
GPAC Quarterfinals: Tuesday, Nov. 4 vs. CSM (6-11-1, 5-5-1 GPAC), 6 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12; only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s are admitted free of charge.
Concordia finds confidence in the past postseason success the program has enjoyed in recent years. Over the previous 11 GPAC tournaments, the Bulldogs have reached at least the semifinals nine times and have played in the championship game seven times (five straight years from 2014 through 2018). The program celebrated GPAC postseason championships in 2014, 2016 and 2020. Coach Smith has gone 3-2 in his tournament runs but will look to go further in his third showing. Concordia will rely on 12 experienced seniors, including Savannah Andrews, Kierstynn Garner, Niah Kirchner, Shelby Rugg, Elena Ruiz, Taylor Slaymaker and more.
In a game that could have many more ramifications to the season than just one win, the Bulldogs defeated rival Doane (2-1) with a KO before the end of the time sheet. With 11 seconds left in a 1-1 draw, Garner delivered the 23rd game winning goal in incredible fashion. Andrews pushed the ball towards the Kearney forward beat her 1-on-1, plunging the score into the bottom right corner. The tally brought Concordia back into the No. 2 spot of the GPAC while down one to the Tigers, it would have dropped the home blue and white down to No. 5 and out of a host spot. Garner would score both goals as the offense outshot Doane (19-2) in dominant fashion.
Seeing only one defeat, the Bulldogs are on track to have the least losing seasons in the program’s history. With a 12-1-5 overall record (7-1-3 GPAC), Concordia currently has the least amount of losses going into the postseason with its one loss coming from 2025 GPAC regular season champion Morningside. The Bulldogs have defeated quality teams including a then-ranked No. 4 Columbia College (Mo.), Kansas Wesleyan University and Hastings. Concordia tied top-NAIA competition in No. 20 University of Science and Arts (Okla.) and Bellevue. The 2017 Bulldogs posted a 15-2-4 record with two loss in the early non-conference, which is currently the best for the program.
In the first meeting versus CSM, Concordia notched two goals in the second half to defeat the Flames (3-1) via Garner with an assist by Abby Haynes and an insurance goal by Sierra Springer. The Kearney High alum also scored the first goal in the game in the second minute. The Dawgs and CSM met last year in the GPAC Quarterfinals as the home squad defeated the visiting Flames, 3-0. Mirarosa Gyllenswan, Savannah Andrews and Garner put scores in the back of the net and Angela Banks grabbed a shutout and four saves.
With an offense that leads the conference, the Bulldogs have 53 goals scored and are ahead of all competition, with nine more than any team. With 2.94 goals scored per game, Concordia has 42 assists and 148 total points, pacing the GPAC. The attack has a .162 shot percentage on 18.2 shots per game. The leading finishers in the attack are Garner (19), Kyana Rios (nine), Lupe Sanchez (seven), Charli Preister (five) and Savannah Andrews (four). Garner (10) and Andrews (five) lead in assists.
After a new RPI rating coming out on Oct. 27, the Bulldogs sit in 43rd with a 3-0-2 against teams near them in the NAIA ratings system. CUNE has defeated Hastings (32), Columbia College (Mo.), 29, and Kansas Wesleyan University (48) plus tied USAO (Okla.), 10, and Bellevue University (45). Concordia has the 89th strength of schedule ranking with three GPAC squads inside the top 60 (in RPI). Hastings and Morningside (54th) complete the top conference teams with the Broncos having a high 42 SOS rank. The upcoming opponent CSM is rated at 131. The second ARC rankings are set to release on Nov. 4 but were ranked No. 5 in the Midwest region in the last release.
The opponent
The Flames are 6-11-1 overall and 5-5-1 in the GPAC. CSM tied Dakota Wesleyan (0-0) and defeated Mount Marty (3-1) in its final two games. Earning the No. 7 seed, CSM has scored 23 goals in its 18 games. With 11. 8 shots per game, the Flames have totaled 212 chances with a .108 percentage and a .599 shot on goal ratio. In the 23 goals, 20 have been assisted on 1.28 goals per game. They have allowed 2.05 goals per contest. Bella Olsen leads the Flames in goals with seven and Jimena Estrada Gomez with five and four assists. Goalkeeper Jenna Brown has played 1,305 minutes between the posts and allowed 28 goals. Brown has totaled a .785 save percentage with 102 saves.
GPAC tournament pairings
Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Nov. 4
(8) Mount Marty at (1) Morningside, 7 p.m.
(5) Doane at (4) Dordt, 7 p.m.
(6) Dakota Wesleyan at (3) Hastings, 7 p.m.
(7) College of Saint Mary at (2) Concordia, 7 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, Nov. 8
1/8 winner vs. 4/5 winner, time TBA
2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner, time TBA
Championship – Wednesday, Nov. 12
Highest remaining seed hosts, time TBA