SEWARD, Neb. – Coming into the week with a sour taste from a tie in the GPAC opener, the Bulldogs will refocus towards two upcoming conference opponents, College of Saint Mary and Briar Cliff. Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer will face the Flames on Wednesday and the Chargers on Saturday. CUNE has an early 5-0-3 overall record and a 0-0-1 GPAC slate.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 24 at CSM (2-6, 1-0 GPAC), 3 p.m.
Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Heritage Park (Omaha, Neb.)
Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. Briar Cliff (2-5, 0-1 GPAC), 3:30 p.m.
Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
An experienced Bulldog squad notched a team win dominating in all phases of the game in the 4-0 shutout against York University. After a stalemate in the opening 39 minutes, Kierstynn Garner got the offense rolling via an assist from Sierra Springer. The eventual game winner would be the 20th of her already illustrious career. The Grand Island Guadalupe Sanchez bolstered the side to a 2-0 lead as Kyana Rios punched in her third goal (season) from midfielder Elena Ruiz. Two freshmen would dial up a last minute tally as McKennah West dished a ball to Charli Priester. The Bulldogs would combine for 28 total shots to the Panthers’ three. Even more impressive, the midfield and back line would allow zero shots on goal giving keeper Aliya Vidro a shutout.
Flashes of the 2024 contests between the Red Raiders and Concordia come to mind, as the visitors found themselves in a large two goal hole in the NWC Soccer Complex. Rios, out of Omaha South, persistently challenged the opposing goalie and put the Dawgs within one (3-2). Evie Keller and Garner connected and the Kearney, Neb., native drilled a low game-tying ball (3-3) to answer the second half deficit. For the third game in a row, CUNE hit double digit shots (19) compared to the home team’s seven. In the first half, Savannah Andrews continued her hot offense with a cross from Garner and fired it into the far bottom corner.
The white-hot offense continues to barrel through opponents scoring 25 goals (No. 1 in GPAC) in eight games, tying for No. 19 in NAIA in goals scored. Concordia is tied for No. 17 in assists (19) and has earned 20th in points (69) through virtually the first month of play. Garner (nine), Sanchez (five), Priester (four), Rios (four) and Andrews (three) are the leading finishers for the Seward lineup. Garner (six) has the top spot in the conference for assists with Andrews (three) Keller (two) and Sanchez (two) hitting multiple figures.
The Bulldogs have allowed a 1.25 goal against average (fourth in GPAC) with four of the 10 coming from the penalty box. A defense that allows a .137 shot percentage, Concordia has given up 73 total shots and a .589 shot on goal percentage. If someone is going to score on this team, they will typically have to do it alone, only giving up three assists from the 10 marks. With Aaliyah Matthews sidelined, Vidro and Grady Smith are in a battle for the starting position in the net. In 239 minutes, Vidro has allowed three goals with a .786 save percentage and Smith has surrendered two with a .714 save rate.
In the top five of the conference leaderboard, Garner is first in assists and second in goals. The All-GPAC Garner has 24 points, leading the conference as the offensive juggernaut. The speedster out of Kearney has 31 shots (fourth) and paces the Great Plains with a .290 shot percentage. Lupe Sanchez is tied for fourth in the rundown for goals. Vidro has the fourth-highest save percentage and goals allowed average (1.13).
In last year's two matchups, Concordia shut out the Flames in a 4-0 contest and a 3-0 GPAC tournament quarterfinal. The Bulldogs reached history with the longest winning streak in the program against CSM in the playoff. Mirarosa Gyllenswan, Andrews and Garner all scored to move on to the semifinals. On the opposite end, CUNE started the run with a win (1-0) versus Briar Cliff on homecoming night. Off the feet of Emily Howard, Rios streamlined the ball from 25 yards out to take the game with the lone goal. The Bulldogs went on to win 10 straight.
The first NAIA ARC ratings were published as the Bulldogs were rated 47th (0.575 RPI). Concordia’s strength of schedule was at 107th in the country. Hastings, the highest for GPAC schools, was rated 19th with a 36th strength of schedule position. University of Science and Arts (Okla.) has been rated 29th, Kansas Wesleyan University, 41st, and Columbia University (Mo.) are 61st, teams the Bulldogs have faced this season, going 2-0-1. Dordt (89), Northwestern (98) and Morningside (99) are the next in line for the conference.
College of Saint Mary
The Flames will enter the contest with a 2-6 showing and a 1-0 GPAC record. In its last contest, College of Saint Mary dominated Waldorf (6-1) in Forest City. The other win the Flames gained was a 4-1 victory over Dakota State University (S.D.). With both wins coming on the road, the Flames will lean on top goal scorer Bella Olsen (third in GPAC), who has put six in the back of the net. Sophomore Ella Klusman has amassed four goals and four assists of the 14 total scored. Averaging 13.9 shots per game, CSM has scored 1.75 goals per game with a .126 shot percentage and a .586 shot on goal percentage. Allowing 23 goals as a team, Keeper Jenna Brown has the majority of the minutes between the posts with 405 total. She has allowed 15 goals and produced 26 saves on a .634 save percentage.
Briar Cliff
The Chargers are 2-5 overall and 0-1 in the conference coming into the week. In their last outing, they dropped a 1-0 defensive contest to Doane at home. Briar Cliff has defeated William Penn University (Iowa), 2-0, and Dakota State (4-1). BCU is set to face Morningside in Sioux City on Wednesday. Scoring eight goals this season, the Chargers have 1.14 goals per game and allow 1.57 a contest. Almost double in shots, Briar Cliff has taken 47 to its opponents’ 81 and has a .511 shot on goal percentage. Sierra Brooks is the leader in the attacking third with four finishes and one assist to tally nine points with a .444 shot percentage. Ondine Manceau has tallied two assists as the team has six in the seven games. The starting keeper, Caitlin Anderholm has a 1.65 goals allowed average (11 goals) with 34 saves and a .756 save percentage. Anderholm has earned one shutout.
Next Week
Concordia will host Mount Marty and travel to Sioux City and face Morningside in the following contest. The Bulldogs will be in Seward versus the Lancers and take the field at Elwood Olsen Stadium for the Mustangs' homecoming.
Wednesday, Oct. 1
8 p.m. – vs. Mount Marty
Saturday, Oct. 4
7:30 p.m. – at Morningside