SEWARD, Neb. – The white hot Bulldogs will grab road snacks on the way to take the field against in-state rival Midland and Dakota Wesleyan as fall break comes. Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer took down Hastings (2-1) and routed Waldorf (10-0) in an undefeated week on the pitch. Concordia has a 4-1-2 GPAC record and a 9-1-4 overall showing.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Midland (1-10-1, 0-7 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Heedum Field (Fremont, Neb.)
Saturday, Oct. 18 at Dakota Wesleyan (3-2-6, 2-1-3 GPAC), 6 p.m.
Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex (Mitchell, S.D.)
For the first time under Head Coach Nick Smith, the tide began to change as the Dawgs defeated the Broncos in Hastings. After the home team scored in the opening minutes, Kierstynn Garner equalized only 11 minutes later with her link from Savannah Andrews. With a dead period between the next goal, the go-ahead score loomed large for which ever team could find the back of the net first. With a throw-in from Evie Keller, the ball touched Garner, Kyana Rios then Charli Priester finished with a one touch banger for the eventual game winner. The offense rounded up 14 shots to the Broncos 10, with Garner (four) and Priester (three) leading. Aliya Vidro grabbed the win with two saves between the pipes.
The route versus the Warriors of Forest City saw seven various players come away with a goal on the stat sheet. Kierstynn Garner (three), Kyana Rios (two), Shelby Rugg, Guadalupe Sanchez, Sadie Mares, Niah Kirchner and Abby Haynes scored inside Bulldog Stadium on Saturday as the team outshot their opponents with a whopping 38-0 edge. Senior defender Rugg and freshman forward Haynes tallied the first goals of their careers, and midfielder Kirchner for the first time this season. Grady Smith and Alicia Lopez combined for a shutout.
The Bulldogs have a slight edge over Midland in the all-time matchup series with a 16-15-4 record. On the back of Garner’s fast start, Concordia dialed up a 6-0 clean sheet with KG scoring three (four total) in the first 35 minutes. Rosie Gyllenswan and Kirchner scored the other two swipes and goalkeepers Angela Banks plus Vidro combined for the blanking. The history books show the Dawgs with a 16-6-1 record against Dakota Wesleyan having kept the run going with 2024’s 2-1 victory. Then-freshmen Rios and Sierra McElhannon (via Elena Ruiz) scored their second and first goals of their career.
With a 15 goal advantage over any team in the GPAC, the offense continues to dominate the attacking third, producing the 19th-best squad in scoring (45 goals) in the NAIA. The Bulldogs have the 14th-highest assists (36) and are 19th in points (126). With a 4-1-1 record in the last six games, Concordia is playing some of its best soccer to date having only allowed 1.0 goals per game in that span. With the defense playing stellar, the team has outscored these opponents 20-6 and taken a 113-42 shot advantage. In the six games, the Dawgs have gotten 20 offside calls to two for their opponents.
The legend grows as Garner adds her 8th career GPAC Offensive Player of the Week award today. She has now tied the second-highest in goals scored (65) in the program’s history with Angela Krueger (1997-02). Following the Waldorf game, KG is second all time in points (156) jumping ahead of Krueger. Garner has entered the top five in career assists (27) tying Gentri Brown (2003-06) and Jennifer Davis (2002-05). The Kearney native has 22 game-winning goals in her time as a Bulldog, which is first by nine contests.
Concordia (seven games played) tops the standings with 14 points but having played one more contest than most of the GPAC. Hastings (six games), Doane (six games) and Dordt are all tied for second with 13 points. Mount Marty has totaled 11 points through six games with a program-improving record of 3-1-2. College Saint Mary and Dakota Wesleyan round out the top eight with nine points. At the bottom of the conference, Northwestern (eight), Briar Cliff (four), Midland (zero) and Waldorf (zero) look to make moves for the GPAC tournament.
Concordia ranks 43rd in the newest NAIA RPI rating released on Monday (Oct. 13). The Bulldogs strength of schedule is 95th in the country and seventh in the ARC (released on Oct. 7) behind teams they defeated earlier in the season, including Hastings and Columbia College (Mo.). The Broncos lead the GPAC in NAIA RPI ratings at No. 21 and a high schedule showing of 31. Morningside is ranked 51st and Dordt is 81st in the recent release.
Midland
The Warriors are 1-10-1 overall and 0-7 in the GPAC looking for their first victory in conference play. Recently, Midland dropped games to Briar Cliff, Doane and Dakota Wesleyan – all 2-0 finishes. Scoring an average of 0.58 goals per game, the Fremont side has scored seven total goals while giving up 2.92 goals per contest. With a 0.59 shot percentage, they shoot 9.9 chances per 90 minutes, attaining a .571 shot on goal percentage. Senior Addison Castellanos has a team high three goals with AnneMarie Oilepo (two) right behind her. Freshman goalie Ava Brandt has played 925 minutes in the net giving up 28 goals but has 71 saves (third in GPAC). She allows 2.72 goals in every bout with a .717 save percentage.
Dakota Wesleyan
The Tigers are 3-2-6 overall and 2-1-3 in the conference. DWU has gone unbeaten in the last five contests against Dordt (0-0), Hastings (0-0), Northwestern (3-1), Doane (0-0) and Midland (2-0). The tying Tigers are like a stone wall in the defensive third allowing a conference low eight goals. Dakota Wesleyan has Waldorf in the opening this week before facing Concordia. The team allows 0.73 goals per contest and scores 1.27 goals with 14 total. Hannah Petrucci leads the offense with five goals and 52 shots (third in GPAC). Midfielder Annika Enevoldsen has scored three goals and a team pacing four assists. The offense shoots 16.1 shots per game with a 0.79 shot percentage and a .520 shot on goal percentage. Keeper Abigail Colgrove has 10 starts with seven goals allowed and 0.71 goals allowed per game earning second in GPAC in both categories. She has a high ,806 save percentage, fifth in GPAC.
Next Week
Concordia stays in the Dawg house for the final week hosting Dordt and Doane. The Bulldogs will play in Seward, Neb., looking to take hold of home field advantage.
Wednesday, Oct. 25
3:30 p.m. – vs Dordt
Saturday, Oct. 29
8 p.m. – vs Doane