SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Women’s soccer team showed on Tuesday (Sept. 13) that it could handle success with maturity. Fresh off a road win over an NAIA top 25 opponent, the Bulldogs returned home to rout Bethany College, 4-0, on a muggy evening in Seward. Three Concordia players found the back of the net at least once while a strong collective defensive effort resulted in the team’s third clean sheet of 2022.
Head Coach Thomas Goines has guided the program to its first 5-0 start to a season since 2003. The Bulldogs will enter conference play brimming with confidence.
“It’s something you can take pride in,” Goines said of the unbeaten start. “We came in with a blended group trying to find an identity early in the year. You don’t always anticipate winning out the start of your season. We’ve had some tough games and some tough teams, and every team we’ve seen plays a different style. The hope for the nonconference part of the season is that you’re learning and growing. Today was a different type of challenge. It’s nice to be 5-0, but the real season starts Saturday.”
The goal scoring punch of this ’22 Concordia team is a welcome change from last season. On Tuesday, the Bulldogs controlled possession and created enough chances to have put more goals on the board than the four they scored. Eventually, the floodgates opened up with three second half goals, coming from the likes of Lisa McClain (48’), Lina Kirst (61’) and Kierstynn Garner (73’).
The freshman Garner has quickly emerged as a star with her blazing speed at the striker position. The Kearney, Neb., native also put a goal away right at the 11-minute mark on Tuesday and has now racked up five goals over the past three games. On a team laden with senior starters, Garner has fit right in while grabbing the spotlight.
“We don’t really think about it grade-wise, we just work well together and we’re all friends,” Garner said. “We don’t think about who’s who. We just work well together as a team … my speed helps me a lot, but I can’t be scoring without the passes I get from my teammates.”
McClain and Kirst are part of that group of academic seniors. Kirst came through with a highlight-reel worthy goal on a free kick from the edge of the 18-yard box. Steady as always, fellow classmates and starters Aliyah Aldama, Allee Downing, Ellie Eason and Grace Soenksen also played significant roles in the victory. Meanwhile, reigning GPAC Defensive Player of the Week Kalie “Rocket” Ward made two saves in her 78 minutes in goal. She combined with Bradi Ore (12 minutes) on the shutout. The keepers were kept clean on a night when the Swedes were limited to four shots (compared to 19 by Concordia).
The perfect run through nonconference action included three wins over Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference opponents and two over Heart of America Athletic Conference foes. The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by a combined total of 14-4 and are growing in their belief that they can compete near the top of the GPAC.
“We have the talent to make a run in the conference this year,” Goines said. “It’s got to be a combination of positive results, quality play and a little bit of luck as we need it. We’re excited about where we’re at and where we could see ourselves getting to at the end of the season.”
Conference play will get started on Saturday with a trip to Yankton, S.D., for a matchup with Mount Marty (1-1-2, 0-0 GPAC). The action will get started at 5:30 p.m. CT from Crane-Youngworth Field. The Bulldogs are 20-0 all-time against the Lancers.