SEWARD, Neb. – Under the new direction of head coach Nick Smith, Concordia landed the fifth spot out of the 13 teams in the 2023 GPAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll as announced by the conference office on Thursday (Aug. 10). The Bulldogs rounded out the top five with 95 points behind Jamestown, Hastings, Briar Cliff and Midland.
Concordia ended their 2022 season with a 10-6-2 overall record and 5-5-2 in conference play. Smith will look to return the Bulldogs to championship status as the last time they held up the trophy was in the 2020 GPAC Tournament.
Coach Smith talked about building relationships and competing with each other in the early part of his tenure. “The spring was big for me just to learn about what is here and get an understanding of the players’ personalities and the things we do well and the things we don’t,” Smith said. “With me coming in as a new coach, the last thing I wanted to do was throw a bunch of curveballs at them. The spring was about general assessment. Every training session was designed this spring for them to compete with each other and to show what they can offer. I think the girls took to that really well. I feel like the buy-in was there and the energy was high and that maintained itself through the course of the spring. I feel like we got a lot out of the spring even though I came here in the middle of March.”
They will bring back First Team All-GPAC center back Grace Soenksen as she returns for her Senior year of play. Kierstynn Garner returns from her Freshman Second Team All-GPAC campaign scoring the team high in goals (8) her first year of collegiate play.
The season opens on the road in Salina, Kan. against Kansas Wesleyan University on Aug. 23 followed by a home match verses Graceland University (Iowa) on Aug. 26 at Bulldog Stadium.
2023 GPAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll
-First-place votes in parentheses
1. Jamestown – 138 (7)
2. Hastings– 133 (5)
3. Briar Cliff – 118 (1)
4. Midland – 112
5. Concordia – 95
6T. Dordt – 88
6T. Morningside – 88
8. College of Saint Mary – 66
9. Doane – 54
10. Northwestern – 44
11. Dakota Wesleyan – 33
12. Waldorf – 31
13. Mount Marty – 14