SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer will host Doane for its final scheduled game on Wednesday (Oct. 29). The Bulldogs and Dordt drew (1-1) after 90 minutes of play and gained a much-needed point to stay in second in the conference table. Head Coach Nick Smith and the gang have tallied an 11-1-5 record and a 6-1-3 showing in GPAC competition.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 29 vs. Doane (8-7-2, 6-3-1 GPAC), 8 p.m.
Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
All hope was starting to dwindle as time began to run out for the Bulldogs, looking down the barrel of a loss to Dordt at home. With the Defenders playing nine behind the ball, the Concordia offense was looking for the one strike to equalize. Not known for her offensive prowess, centerback Taylor Slaymaker launched a missile from 28 yards out and preserved the tie in the 84th minute. The attack fired off 10 shots to the visitors' nil in the second frame and found only one past the final line. Kierstynn Garner and Savannah Andrews led in chances with three apiece and Aliya Vidro grabbed the win, moving her record to 5-1-2.
There is a new No. 2 in the program’s history in goals scored as the forward Garner has mounted 66 in her career. She surpassed Angela Krueger (1997-00) and sits behind No. 1 overall Jennifer Davis (2002-05) with 88 total. Tied for 11th in the NAIA in finishes, KG has 17 total in 2025 and is in eighth place in total points (44). The Kearney High product continues to make her name known nationally being No. 15 in assists (10) and No. 1 in the conference.
With a six-goal advantage over any team in the GPAC, the offense continues to dominate the attacking third, producing 51 goals in the 17 games. The Bulldogs have the 16th-highest assists (40), first in GPAC, and are 22nd in points (140). With 18.2 shots per game, the individual leaders, behind Garner, are Rios (9), sixth in GPAC, Sanchez (seven), Charli Preister (five) and Savannah Andrews (four). Seven different players have at least three assists on the year.
The closest in-state rival match has Concordia ahead in the overall series (18-16), going 12-0 since 2014. In the most recent match versus Doane, Kierstynn Garner scored the game winner (2-1) in the second half via Hannah Kile. The Tigers’ Celeste Galvan got the early goal putting the home squad up early at Papik Field. Senna McMullen crashed a ball back into the box for Andrews to put it away just before half to end at one each.
With a 6-1-2 record in the last nine games, Concordia is playing some of its best soccer to date having only allowed .78 goals per game in that span. With the defense playing stellar, the team has outscored these opponents 26-7. In the run, the Dawgs have gotten 22 offside calls to two for their opponents. With six goals allowed in the seven games, Aliya Vidro has earned two complete shutouts and 22 saves while having a .92 goals against average. The back line mainstays have been Slaymaker, Triniti Rowe, Hannah Kile, Shelby Rugg and Sadie Mares.
Morningside (8-1-1) has clinched the 2025 GPAC regular season championship with its most recent win and has totaled 25 points so far. Concordia (6-1-3) has a one-point lead (21) over Dordt (6-2-2) and Hastings (6-2-2) with the tie against the Defenders. Doane (6-3-1) is right behind the top four with 19 points. Dakota Wesleyan (16), Mount Marty (15), and College of Saint Mary (13) are all currently in the GPAC playoff and Northwestern (11) looks to jump in the final spot with one game remaining.
After a new RPI rating coming out yesterday (Oct. 27), the Bulldogs sit in 43rd with a 3-0-2 against teams near them in the NAIA ratings system. CUNE has defeated Hastings (32), Columbia College (Mo.), 29, and Kansas Wesleyan University (48) plus tied USAO (Okla.), 10, and Bellevue University (45). Concordia has the 89th strength of schedule ranking with three GPAC squads inside the top 60 (in RPI). Hastings and Morningside (54th) complete the top conference teams with the Broncos having a high 42 SOS rank. The upcoming opponent Doane is just in the top- 100 at 97. The second ARC rankings are set to release on Nov. 4 but were ranked No. 5 in the Midwest region in the last release.
Doane
The Tigers are 8-7-2 overall and 6-3-1 in the conference going into the final week. Doane is 3-2 in its last five outings with a 2-0 win over CSM and a loss to Morningside (3-2) most recently. With 17 games played, the Tigers have scored 21 goals averaging 1.24 goals per game. Surmounting 9.7 shots per game, they have a .127 shot percentage and a .594 shot on goal percentage. McKenna Rathbun has scored a team high eight times and five assists to lead Doane on the offensive end. Freshman Brianna-Lynn Ehia is behind her with four goals with Celeste Galvan having four assists. Allowing 1.12 goals per game, the Crete side has six shutouts and 19 total scores given. Junior Virginia Johnson has played 1,065 minutes in the net with 12 goals allowed. The keeper Johnson has 65 saves and 1.01 GAA and 65 saves (.844 save percentage).
Up Next
With a win, Concordia will host the GPAC quarterfinals versus set seeds by the conference which will be known after all gameplay ends on Wednesday. The Bulldogs could earn the No. 2 seed down to No. 5 in the tight-knit standings.