SEWARD, Neb. – A pair of foes the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team saw during its spring GPAC tournament title run make up this week’s schedule. The Bulldogs will host Midland on Wednesday before a road trip to Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday. Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad is coming off an usual week of GPAC play that saw it play four overtime sessions and settle for draws with both Dordt and Northwestern. Concordia sits at 4-2-2 overall and at 1-0-2 within the conference.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 29 vs. Midland (5-4, 2-1), 5:30 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats
Saturday, Oct. 2 at Dakota Wesleyan (4-4, 1-2), 1 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats
The Bulldogs have actually played double overtime contests in three of their last four outings. That stretch includes the 2-1 win at Bellevue University on Sept. 15. In last week’s home matchup with Dordt (1-1 tie), Concordia struggled in the second half, but dodged several bullets in forcing overtime. The one Bulldog goal came via Grace Soenksen in the 31st minute. The Defenders finished with a 15-9 shot advantage. Three days later, Concordia settled for a 2-2 draw at Northwestern despite having held a 2-0 lead. A goal apiece was supplied by Madeline Haugen and Michaela Twito. Statistically, this was one of the Bulldogs’ top attacking efforts this season. They put 15 shots on frame (25 total shots), including four by Mikeila Martinez.
The results last week weren’t exactly what the Bulldogs were hoping for, but they did manage to extend the program’s unbeaten streak versus conference opponents. Concordia is 9-0-4 in its last 13 games against GPAC foes. That stretch includes last season’s GPAC tournament title run. The most recent loss to a conference opponent came on Oct. 7, 2020, in a 3-0 decision at Morningside. Under former Head Coach Greg Henson, the program went more than two years (October 2016 to October 2018) without suffering a GPAC regular season loss. During that run, Concordia went 22-0-4 in conference regular season contests.
There have been some classic battles in recent seasons between the Bulldogs and Warriors. In the GPAC semifinal matchup in the spring, Concordia got past Midland in penalty kicks (following a 0-0 draw). The Warriors have a first-year head coach in Cody Bartlow, who replaced Greg Jarosik. The team’s 5-4 overall record may be a bit misleading. Midland has lost two overtime games to teams that were either ranked or receiving votes nationally at the time of the game. The Warriors will ride a three-game win streak into Wednesday night’s contest.
The Bulldogs edged Dakota Wesleyan, 2-1, in last season’s GPAC quarterfinals. So far in conference play, the Tigers have fallen at the hands of Hastings, 7-0, and Briar Cliff, 4-0, and have defeated College of Saint Mary, 3-2. The victory over CSM was a quality one – the Flames are 3-1 in GPAC play. Josephine Bardsley put away two goals in the win. Like Concordia, DWU owns a nonconference victory over Bellevue.
As part of next week’s slate, the Bulldogs will host Morningside on Oct. 6 before making the long journey to Jamestown on Oct. 9. Concordia and Jamestown will be a rematch of last season’s GPAC tournament championship game.