SEWARD, Neb. – Following two draws last week, Concordia University Women’s Soccer aims to return to the win column this week as it goes up against Midland and Dakota Wesleyan. The Bulldogs had their chances to get to 8-0 in recent action, but they settled for ties at Dordt, 1-1, on Sept. 21 and versus Northwestern, 0-0, on Sept. 24. Though there was some frustration involved in those results, Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad remains unbeaten at 6-0-2 overall (1-0-2 GPAC). No other team in program history had ever gone undefeated through the first eight games of a season.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 28 at Midland (3-3-3, 1-1-1 GPAC), 5 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats
Saturday, Oct. 1 vs. Dakota Wesleyan (2-4-1, 0-3 GPAC), 1 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats
By the numbers
· In past years, there would have been overtimes to perhaps break the ties that came about last week. Due to the rule change that was adopted prior to the start of the season, all regular season games now end after 90 minutes of play. Coming away with ties last week was disappointing in two very different ways. In a fairly evenly played game at Dordt, a 1-0 Concordia lead evaporated with 66 seconds left in regulation. Against Northwestern, the Bulldogs dominated in every phase – they just couldn’t find the back of the net despite an 18-5 advantage in shots. One of those shots was a missed penalty kick early in the second half.
· No other Bulldog team had gone more than six games without a loss to begin a season. In other words, the ’22 squad has continued to extend a school record season opening unbeaten streak. The two ties did prevent Concordia from reaching the program record for longest win streak, which was eight by the 2016 squad. The longest overall unbeaten streak of 17 was rattled off by the ’17 team that owns the program’s only GPAC regular season title. The Bulldogs are currently the lone team in the GPAC without a loss on the overall record.
· While the goal scoring ran a bit dry last week, the Bulldogs have surrendered just one goal since Sept. 6, a span of five games. Overall this season, Concordia has outscored its opponents by a combined total of 21-5. Freshman Kierstynn Garner remains the team’s leading goal scorer with seven goals. Four of her teammates have produced multiple goals: Lina Kirst (three), Aliyah Aldama (two), Ellie Eason (two) and Elena Ruiz (two). The team leader for assists is Niah Kirchner with three. At keeper, Kalie “Rocket” Ward owns an impressive goals against average of 0.54 and a save percentage of .880. Eason notched the team’s lone goal last week.
· On the national leaderboard, the Bulldogs rank 14th nationally for goals against average (0.63) behind two-time First Team All-GPAC center back Grace Soenksen. Concordia is one of 13 teams in the NAIA to have yet to suffer a defeat in 2022. On the GPAC level, the Bulldogs rank first in goals against average and third in goals scored per game (2.63). Garner ranks in a tie for fourth among conference players in goals scored. In the official GPAC poll released on Sept. 19, the Bulldogs were placed fourth in the league.
· The rivalry with Midland has been an intense one. Concordia’s recent success against the Warriors has given it the lead in the all-time series, 15-13-3. The Bulldogs won last season’s meeting by a 1-0 score in Seward. The two sides also met in the 2020 GPAC semifinals and played 110 minutes of scoreless soccer. Concordia wound up advancing on penalty kicks. Despite the 1-0 loss last season to Dakota Wesleyan, the Bulldogs own an all-time series lead of 13-6-1 over the Tigers.
The opponents
Midland finished last season at 11-8 overall (8-4 GPAC) in what was Cody Bartlow’s first season as head coach of the program. The Warriors return First Team All-GPAC defender Emily Ambrose. They have started out 1-1-1 in conference play during a league slate that has included a 2-1 loss at Jamestown, a 1-1 tie at Presentation and a 2-1 win over Dordt. Midland has been outscored by its opponents this season, 20-16. Bailey Locano leads the team with four goals.
Dakota Wesleyan is fresh off a solid 10-7-1 overall mark (6-5-1 GPAC) in 2021. The Tigers have begun 2022 conference play with losses to Hastings, 10-0, Briar Cliff, 3-0, and College of Saint Mary, 6-0. DWU has been outscored on the season, 24-3, by its opponents. Nicolas Reinhard is in his first season as head coach for both the Tiger men’s and women’s programs.
Next week
The slate will follow an away-home pattern again next week with the Bulldogs playing at Morningside on Oct. 5 and then hosting Jamestown on Oct. 8.