SEWARD, Neb. – For the third consecutive year, the Bulldogs will host seventh-seeded College of Saint Mary in the GPAC quarterfinals on Tuesday (Nov. 3). Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer has earned a share of the GPAC regular season, seeded runner up for the fourth straight postseason playoff. The conference champions have posted a 10-3-3 overall record and tied the program record most wins in league play (9-1-1).
Next Match
GPAC Quarterfinals: Tuesday, Nov. 3 vs. No. 7 CSM (8-8-1, 4-6-1 GPAC), 7 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 IDs are admitted free of charge.
Concordia finds confidence in the past postseason success the program has enjoyed in recent years. Over the previous 12 GPAC tournaments, the Bulldogs have reached at least the semifinals 10 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. Head Coach Jason Weides enters his first women’s tournament but won three titles (2015, ‘22, ‘25) as the front man of the men’s team. Concordia will rely on experienced players, including Sadie Mares, Kyana Rios and Triniti Rowe.
The Bulldogs won a share of their second regular season title, tying Hastings and Morningside. The Seward side defeated the Mustangs, 2-1, on Sept. 26 in its best win in the 9-1-1 GPAC run. With nine conference wins, Concordia tied the program record for most victories in GPAC play, matching the 2017 and 2020 teams. The first title came in 2017 with a 9-0-1 record, tying the Broncos once more. The Bulldogs also defeated Dordt (3-1), Doane (2-0), CSM (3-0), Mount Marty (1-0), Waldorf (9-0), Northwestern (4-0) and Midland (8-0). The lone loss came against Hastings (2-0), and the tie came against Dakota Wesleyan (2-2).
With the GPAC championship on the line, the Dawgs diced Midland in an 8-0 whipping to win emphatically over the visitors. Guadalupe Sanchez started the onslaught with a brace performance and Kiana Perez scored two goals of her own in the second half. Others finding the back of the net were Molli Kalsbeck, Abby Haynes, Rios and Melissa Howard. Concordia walloped their opponents with a 34-4 shot advantage, allowing zero on goal in the 90 minutes. McKennah West dished out two assists, one to her cousin Perez. Also leashing assists were Kalsbeck, Haynes, Mares and Rowe.
In the first meeting versus CSM, the Bulldogs notched two goals in the first half to defeat the Flames (3-0). Kalsbeck (30th minute) found nylon via a connection with fellow Kearney freshman Addie Snyder. About three minutes later, Haynes finished the second score from Joey Long and Rowe. Long made her first goal of the season in the final minute with an assist from Snyder. Concordia doubled the Flames in shots (19-9) and took an advantage in corners (7-4).
With an offense that leads in goals scored against the conference, the Bulldogs have goals tallied 36 and are ahead of all competition, and are ahead of all competition, with three more than any other team. With 3.27 goals scored per game, Concordia has 31 assists (2nd) and 103 total points, pacing the GPAC. The attack has a .209 shot percentage on 15.6 shots per game. The leading finishers in the attack are Lupe Sanchez (4th in GPAC) (10), Haynes (seven), Kalsbeck (five), Perez (four), Rios (three) and Charli Preister (three). Rowe (seven), Haynes (six) and Kalsbeck (six) lead in assists. The Bulldogs are 12th in the NAIA in shot percentage (.210)
Against conference teams, CUNE has given up the second fewest of goals (six), just behind Hastings (three). The Dawgs have claimed eight shutouts and seven were in GPAC play. In 11 games played, they have given up a 0.55 goals-against average. Goalkeeper Aaliyah Matthews has a 7-1-1 record and four shutouts in conference. She has allowed five goals (3rd in GPAC) and has a .857 save percentage (3rd). The Bulldogs have the second least amount of saves needed (36) with the defense stocked with talent including the likes of captain Evie Keller, Preister, Rowe, Avery Black, Snyder, Mares, Sierra McElhannon and more.
In the latest NAIA RPI, the Bulldogs leapt eight spots to No. 29 (in the Oct. 26 edition). Officially, Concordia’s strength of schedule rates as the 28th toughest in the nation. The GPAC is strongly represented in the RPI with Morningside landing at No. 13 and Hastings checking in at No. 22. Based on the RPI, the Bulldogs’ win over Morningside is their most impressive result of the season. Out of conference, Concordia played their highly rated foes in No. 16 Science & Arts of Oklahoma (4-0 loss) and No. 32 Bellevue University (1-1 draw). The latest RPI can be found HERE.
The opponent
The Flames are 8-8-1 overall and 4-6-1 in their conference run. The Omaha roster has lost three of its last four with the lone win coming against Waldorf (3-0). With 31 goals scored, CSM has allowed 34 on the season. In an offensive attack that fires 10.4 shots a game, Aubree McCumber leads the team in attempts with 27 on the year. Makena Kramer and Ella Klusman (two assists) pace the team with six goals apiece. The team has shown a .175 shot percentage. The defense has garnered six shutouts (3rd in GPAC) with all of the clean sheets seeing Jenna Brown (five complete) in between the posts. Goalkeeper Brown has guarded the net for 1,395 minutes in 16 games played. She is in the top-5 in the conference in saves (106) and save percentage (.785). The Seward side has ended the Flames’ season in the quarterfinals in each of the past two seasons, winning 3-0 in both contests. It has a 13-7-2 overall record against CSM.
GPAC tournament pairings
Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Nov. 3
(8) Dordt at (1) Hastings, 7 p.m.
(5) Briar Cliff at (4) Mount Marty, 5 p.m.
(6) Dakota Wesleyan at (3) Morningside, 7 p.m.
(7) College of Saint Mary at (2) Concordia, 7 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, Nov. 7
1/8 winner vs. 4/5 winner, time TBA
2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner, time TBA
Championship – Wednesday, Nov. 11
Highest remaining seed hosts, time TBA