MITCHELL, S.D. – Concordia scored six unanswered, thumping Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday (Sept. 30), toward their 6-1 win at Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex. GPAC leading scorers, Savannah Andrews and Kierstynn Garner charged the Bulldog offense with goals early and often toward their route over the Tigers. Grace Soenksen, Taylor Slaymaker, and Hannah Kile, among others, kept the back line steady through double digit shots from afar, as Dakota Wesleyan tried to catch up with the visitors.
CUNE is now the only team left unbeaten in the GPAC (4-0-1) and 8-2-1 overall. Head coach Nick Smith commented on the matchup and how much his players are growing in the box.
“We were able to limit many of their chances from deep. We have tried to get bodies in the box, which allows for more and more goal scorers so that they can’t key on just one person. Now, more of our girls are taking shots and making their chances in front of the net. KG (Garner) and Savannah both know where the goal is right now. They can score in many ways and are dangerous from multiple spots.”
Seemingly racing each other to find goals in the past few weeks, Garner and Andrews came out hot by no surprise to anyone who watches the league closely. In the 5th minute, Andrews struck first in the top right corner via the feed of her teammate Garner. KG answered the bell, outrunning a defender, she only had the keeper to beat. She kicked it left, just out of reach of the diving keeper, as Garner leaped over the different-colored jersey to tap in the empty goal strike.
In the 20th minute, the Tiger keeper came outside of the penalty area and made a mistake, giving the ball to Garner for a long rolling score. Andrews came back four minutes later, kicking in a score (11th season) off a previously blocked shot by the keeper, making the match (4-0) undesirable for the Dakota Wesleyan fan base. Kierstynn would later kick in a hat trick goal (first this year) in the 57th minute for her 12th goal of 2023.
Kassidy Johnson netted her first goal of the season off an assist from Hannah Haas. Johnson has three goals in her career and has given the team quality minutes throughout the season. Bradi Ore and Angela Banks split time but had a save apiece between the two.
The shot advantage was barely in favor of the Bulldogs(14-13) but the final proved the difference in quality shots. The Tigers gained an edge on corner kicks (4-1).
Concordia (8-2-1, 4-0-1 GPAC) hosts Morningside (5-2-3, 2-1-2 GPAC) on Wednesday (Oct. 4) at Bulldog Stadium. First kick is set for 8 p.m. CT under the lights. The Dawgs fell to the Mustangs (2-1) in Sioux City last year.