SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University women’s soccer team can still accomplish all the goals it had laid out prior to the start of the season. That’s the message head coach Chris Luther wants to make sure that his squad understands even in the face of an 0-3 start. The Bulldogs can get themselves off the schneid with two more opportunities this week – both against foes from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 4 vs. Friends University (1-0), 5:30 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Saturday, Sept. 7 at Tabor College (0-2), 2 p.m.
--Live Webcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8POhsqRlJzg&feature=youtu.be
According to Massey Ratings, Concordia has played the nation’s 12th most challenging schedule to this point in the season. The Bulldogs have dropped games against teams with NAIA national ratings of 50th (Missouri Valley College), 19th (Science & Arts University of Oklahoma) and 28th (John Brown University). The latter two opponents were played last week in Siloam Springs, Ark., roughly 450 miles south of Seward. Through three games, the Bulldogs have been outscored by a combined total of 7-0.
This week will show how Concordia has weathered the early storm while Luther continues to try to put the pieces in the right places. In the most recent outing, the Bulldogs started four freshmen and another three came off the bench. They left Arkansas a bit beat up, but hope to have everyone healthy in the near future. First team All-GPAC performer Tori Cera was a notable absence from this past Saturday’s lineup. Sister of former Concordia starter Esther Soenksen, Grace Soenksen got a start at center back in place of Cera. Goalkeeper Lindsey Carley is another of the veterans on the team. She has been lauded by Luther despite the seven goals allowed so far.
Friends and Tabor are both opponents that the Bulldogs faced last season. Concordia opened up the 2018 season by topping Tabor, 4-1, in Seward. A few weeks later the Bulldogs traveled to Wichita, Kan., and eked out a 1-0 win at Friends. In last season’s final KCAC standings, Friends (7-3-2 KCAC) placed fourth and Tabor (5-3-4 KCAC) finished fifth. According to Massey, Friends is ranked No. 91 in the NAIA while Tabor is ranked 168th.
Concordia will play its final nonconference regular season game next Wednesday (Sept. 11) when Bellevue University visits Bulldog Stadium. GPAC play will then get started on Saturday, Sept. 14 with the Bulldogs making a trip to Aberdeen, S.D., for a matchup with Presentation.