SEWARD, Neb. – Kierstynn Garner delivered a stellar hat trick performance being a part of every goal of the 4-0 shutout of Nebraska Wesleyan University on Saturday (Aug. 30). The Bulldog midfield and defense put on a 90-minute clinic only allowing two shots. Garner now has six scores in four games early on.
The squad out of Seward remains unbeaten (3-0-1) with a three-game win streak under its belt.
“A big focus for us today was to be clean defensively and to get through the full 90 without conceding,” Head Coach Nick Smith said. “As the results are going right now, we are scoring some goals. We are putting ourselves in an opportunity to win every game. We just have so many pieces who are dangerous and capable of putting the ball in the back of the net. It is important to make the opposition to make decisions and to punish the decisions that they make. K is just efficient in front of the net. You give her four chances in the game and she is going to score three goals.”
The three-score showing produced by Garner allowed her to surpass Brittany Thomsick (2003-06) for the third leading goal scorer in program history with 55 total finishes. Perhaps the most impressive to reach the net, Garner flicked up a shot over and to the right of the keeper landing in the back farside corner. With six goals and three assists, the Kearney, Neb., native has already racked up 15 points in the early going.
“It was exciting to play, “ Garner said. “We really found each other and my teammates found the right passes and I was able to put them away. Our defense and midfield played well. They controlled the game and they were able to find each other well. It’s exciting but I couldn’t do it without the people behind me.”
The Lupe Sanchez took the game-winner breaking the scoreless tie (17’), as she has four goals in four games. Sanchez, from Grand Island, Neb., also tag-teamed with Shelby Rugg for an assist on the fourth goal.
Senior Niah Kirchner, Kyana Rios and Evie Keller controlled the midfield to help the back line and maintain the majority of the possession. Rugg, Hannah Kile, Taylor Slaymaker and Triniti Rowe each made stops in compromising matchups, leaving only one shot on goal for substitute keeper Grady Smith to clean up. Smith and Aaliyah Matthews combined for the team shutout and after today, Savannah Andrews has totaled three assists this season.
The Bulldogs continue to go deep into the bench with 23 making an appearance on the grass including newcomers Abby Haynes, Joey Long, Charli Preister and McKennah West. Wingers Sadie Mares and Avery Black kept the pressure on offensively in the final third throughout the match.
Nebraska Wesleyan (0-1) relied on Averie Hike in the team’s opener for the 2025 season. The Prairie Wolves will face Illinois College in Abel Stadium tomorrow.
Concordia (3-0-1) will travel to Bellevue University (2-0) on Wednesday for a Nebraska rivalry bout. In the game of unbeatens, the Bulldogs will take the field at 5:30 p.m. CT at the Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex. The two teams remained in a stalemate (1-1) after full time in 2024.