SEWARD, Neb. – As a result of their performances in last week’s regular season finale (a 2-0 win over Doane), freshman Kierstynn Garner and senior Kalie “Rocket” Ward have made for a Concordia sweep of the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Soccer Player of the Week awards. Garner (Offensive POW) and Ward (Defensive POW) were announced as the conference’s latest honorees on Tuesday (Nov. 1). Ward collected the same GPAC award on Sept. 13.
Ward made four saves last week while earning her fourth clean sheet of the season (ninth as a team). The native of Cheyenne, Wyo., has played in 15 of 17 games (14 starts) in 2022 and has posted a save percentage of .819 and goals against average of 0.91. Ward is in her second season as a starter and has played in 32 games over the past two seasons. Her record as a keeper is 16-12-4. Ward has made 127 career saves in nearly 3,000 minutes of action.
In her first collegiate season, Garner has immediately become the team’s top goal scorer. She notched her eighth goal of the season in the victory over Doane and also assisted the goal scored by Savannah Andrews. A native of Kearney, Neb., Garner has started all 17 games and has produced five game-winning goals. Garner came to Concordia via Kearney High School, where she was a standout in both soccer and basketball.
The postseason is up next. Garner, Ward and the Bulldogs (10-5-2, 5-5-2 GPAC) will play at Briar Cliff at 1 p.m. CT on Wednesday in the GPAC tournament quarterfinals. The winner will play again on Saturday in the semifinals.