| For the second time in @CUNEWSoccer's program history, the Bulldogs (9-1-1 GPAC) are the 2026 GPAC Regular Season Champions!! #skodawgs https://t.co/kkjJkB47hf
— Concordia Bulldogs (@cunebulldogs) October 29, 2026
SEWARD, Neb. – For the second time in program history, Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer has hoisted the GPAC regular season championship trophy. The Bulldogs left no doubt in Wednesday (Oct. 28)’s regular season finale, throttling rival Midland, 8-0, inside Bulldog Stadium. Guadulupe Sanchez nearly produced a first-half hat trick while leading her side’s offensive exploits.
In year one guiding the women’s program, Head Coach Jason Weides has steered Concordia to a championship. The Bulldogs finished GPAC play at 9-1-1 (10-3-3), a mark that places them atop the league standings along with Hastings and Morningside.
Concordia played focused, but also free and loose, as evidenced by its pregame and postgame vibing and celebratory TikTok creations (led by Triniti Rowe). In the postgame huddle, senior Sadie Mares reminded Weides that he must follow through on his promise to perform karaoke in the event of a GPAC championship.
Said Weides, “The biggest joy for me is seeing the players’ enjoyment, celebration and happiness. Being able to experience that is great. A lot of hard work has gone into this season, and we’re not done yet. The story isn’t written, but they’ve battled all season and competed really well. It’s a really fun group. I told them afterward that it’s not just about the trophy we’re celebrating. We genuinely love being around each other. This group really enjoys one another, and they’ve helped create an amazing culture while accomplishing some great things along the way.”
Midland was fortunate to simply hold up defensively over the first 13 minutes of scoreless action. In advancing the ball straight up the middle of the park, McKennah West delivered a pass through to Sanchez, who played a touch to the right and tapped in for her first of two goals (14’ and 21’) on the night. The floodgates had opened.
Concordia played the role of aggressor for all 90 minutes, during which the ball took up residence on the home side’s attacking half. Bulldog goals felt inevitable. Sanchez’s second goal was assisted on a cross by Molli Kalsbeck. Five other Bulldogs got into goal scoring column: Kalsbeck (27’), Abby Haynes (48’), Kianna Perez (68’ and 72’), Kyana Rios (75’) and Melissa Howard (86’).
West tallied three assists while one apiece was credited to Haynes, Kalsbeck, Mares and Rowe. It was a particularly satisfying evening for Perez, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln transfer who had been sidelined since the Oct. 7 win at Mount Marty.
Plenty of others also had a hand in the team’s eighth shutout this season. The nature of the game allowed the back line to move into the attack. Concordia owned 34-4 in shots and 11-2 in corner kicks. Aaliyah Matthews played the first 45 minutes at keeper before giving way to Ailya Vidro and Grady Smith. The Warriors (1-14-1, 1-9-1 GPAC) did not put a single shot on frame.
Added Weides, “I keep saying that, at its core, this team competes and has fun. That’s a great foundation for success. When we address something that needs improvement, they continue getting better at it. They seem to improve all the time. From the moment I stepped in, the players welcomed me with open arms.”
A four-year fixture in the lineup, Mares is soaking up a thrilling end to her final regular season. Said the Scottsdale, Ariz., native, “It’s amazing. It’s four years coming. We’ve all killed it. We’ve all earned it. It feels great … You can’t really explain the emotion and how it feels to end on that win. It’s kind of crazy. Everyone was celebrating, not just the title, but how far we’ve come. It’s really indescribable.”
The 2026 Bulldogs join the 2017 team as the two GPAC regular season champions in program history. The program celebrated GPAC tournament titles in 2014, 2016 and 2020.
The GPAC tournament quarterfinal pairings are set. As part of the opening night of postseason play, the second-seeded Bulldogs will host seventh-seeded College of Saint Mary (8-8-1, 4-6-1 GPAC) at 7 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The complete GPAC tournament bracket can be found via the GPAC website. Concordia has celebrated three GPAC tournament championships in program history.