SEWARD, Neb. – In the previous 21 meetings, the Concordia women’s soccer team had never lost to Mount Marty. Saturday (Sept. 16) was no different. The Bulldogs ran through the Lancer defense like it was dust, scoring five unanswered in 16 minutes in the sunshine of Bulldog Stadium. This series couldn’t be more one sided and the 8-1 victory over Mount Marty reflected its history.
Concordia moves to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the GPAC as the new ‘shooting boots’ fit nicely after two wins this week. Head coach Nick Smith commented on how the team responded in their matchup versus the Lancers in the GPAC opener.
“This was a continuation of what we saw on Thursday. We are starting to find confidence in front of the net and we have multiple players who are putting chances away. To have five goals in the first 16 minutes, it really set the tone for today.”
A flurry of goals came from the start of the whistle as Kierstynn Garner picked up where she left off scoring by feed of Sierra Springer only four minutes in. Niah Kirchner, the always steady midfieldfielder, scored her first goal of the season adding the fourth of her career.
Savannah Andrews, who started her first week of the season with three goals and a GPAC Offensive Player of the Week award, had not scored in two games. Enter her downpour of goals, which started in the 12th minute and continued for a hat trick by minute 16. Andrews added her fourth goal in the 66th minute for good measure, and her collective eight goals this season have planted her at the top of the GPAC in goals scored.
Andrews commented, “It was nice to put a lot of goals away after struggling to make goals last week as a team. We found our shooting boots again as Nick (head coach) said. It was a good start to the GPAC season.”
Sierra Springer received a feed via Kassidy Johnson in the 57th minute to score first after the conceded goal by the Dawgs. Springer was also involved in two other goals with two assists which put her tied for first in assist (4) in the GPAC. Springer garnered her first start against Mount Marty and has already shown how much she can help the team.
The Bulldogs held advantages over the Lancers in shots, 22-3 and corner kicks, 9-0. Garner added another goal late for her sixth goal of the season as Kate Smith added her first point with an assist. Many players got to see action to help Concordia to an 8-1 win. Grady Smith got her first action in goal in the second half.
Concordia (5-2, 1-0 GPAC) will host another level of GPAC opponent in Dordt (3-2-1, 1-0-1 GPAC) on Wednesday (Sept. 20). The Bulldogs will be under the lights at 8 p.m. CT as the first whistle blows in Bulldog Stadium. CUNE has not lost to the Defenders since 2010 and leads the series 9-7-4 all-time.