SEWARD, Neb. – Rolling into October unbeaten, Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer will put its record on the line against Mount Marty and Morningside in the coming days. The Bulldogs bested conference foes College of Saint Mary (3-1) and Briar Cliff (4-1) to reach an overall showing of 7-0-3 and 2-0-1 in the conference.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 1 vs. Mount Marty (5-4, 2-1 GPAC), 8 p.m.
Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, Oct. 4 at Morningside (5-1-2, 2-1 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Elwood Olsen Stadium (Sioux City, Iowa)
The road Dawgs turned on the jets after the Flames tied the game up in the 57th minute. Seven minutes later, Kierstynn Garner put the game winner in the back of the net via Abby Haynes. Senior Sierra Springer made good on her first goal of the season in an unassisted finish. Concordia outshot the home CSM team (15-13) with Garner having five of the chances. Aliya Vidro grabbed nine saves in the win and pushed her record to 2-0-1.
A nightmare goal (4’) came in the opening minutes versus Briar Cliff with a change of direction goal after hitting a BCU player. Sadie Mares drilled a free kick from far outside the box to equalize in her second career tally. Kyana Rios and Abby Haynes linked up twice for the second (14’) and fourth (78’) goals with the sophomore taking the game winner. Seniors Garner and Niah Kirchner found each other as the Kearney High product tagged her 12th goal this year. The Bulldogs slashed to 18 shots and hit double digits (10) in shots on goal. Grady Smith kept four on-target shots from hitting the net in her win.
In last year’s meetings, Concordia bullied the Lancers in a 6-0 triumph at home. It was the Kierstynn Garner show as she was a part of every goal with four assists and two goals. Savannah Andrews, Hannah Kile, Rios and Springer also scored in the dominant shutout. The final shot count was 21-3 in favor of the Bulldogs. The Mustangs scored early (5’) in 2024 but it wasn’t two minutes later that Garner evened the scoreboard. She and Andrews would connect on the go-ahead goal for the Gretna, Neb., native. Springer added on the final notch in the contest and kept the Seward side rolling with its third win, which would eventually become 10 in a row.
The white-hot offense continues to barrel through opponents scoring 32 goals (No. 1 in GPAC), besting the next by 11 tallies and are tied for No. 20 in NAIA in goals scored. Concordia is tied for No. 22 in assists (24) and has earned 23rd in points (88) through virtually the first month of play. Garner (11), Rios (six), Sanchez (five), Priester (four) and Andrews (three) are the leading finishers for the lineup. Garner (six) has the second spot in the conference for assists with Andrews (three), Haynes (three), Keller (two), Elene Ruiz (two) and Sanchez (two) hitting multiple figures.
The Bulldogs have allowed a 1.20 goal against average (fifth in GPAC) with four of the 12 coming from the penalty box. A defense that allows a .132 shot percentage, Concordia has given up 91 total shots and a .637 shot on goal percentage. If someone is going to score on this team, they will typically have to do it alone, only giving up four assists from the 12 marks. With Aaliyah Matthews sidelined, Vidro and Grady Smith are in a battle for the starting position in the net. In 329 minutes, Vidro has allowed three goals with a .833 save percentage and Smith has surrendered three with a .750 save rate.
In the top five of the conference leaderboard, Garner is second in assists and second in goals. The All-GPAC Garner has 30 points, leading the conference as the offensive juggernaut. The speedster out of Kearney has 40 shots (third) and paces the Great Plains with a .300 shot percentage. Rios is tied for fifth in the rundown for goals. Vidro has the third-highest save percentage and fourth in goals allowed average (1.09).
The second NAIA ARC ratings were published as the Bulldogs were rated 48th (0.567 RPI). Concordia’s strength of schedule was at 135th in the country. Hastings, the highest for GPAC schools, was rated 19th with a 45th strength of schedule position. University of Science and Arts (Okla.) has been rated 16th, Kansas Wesleyan University, 49th, and Columbia University (Mo.) is 60th, teams the Bulldogs have faced this season, going 2-0-1. Dordt (71), Northwestern (94) and Morningside (101) are the next in line for the conference.
Mount Marty
The Lancers are 5-4 and 2-1 in the conference with a 6-0 loss to Dordt coming into the match. Mount Marty had defeated Dakota Wesleyan (1-0) and Midland (3-0) previously. MMU has 19 goals and averages 2.11 goals per game while allowing 1.78. Firing 13.7 shots per contest, the Lancers have a .553 shot on goal percentage and a .154 shot percentage. Alexia Valdez (four) and Rhyli Grim (three) are out front in scoring and Grimm leads the conference with eight assists. The one and only keeper in the net is Brooklyn McNac, with all nine starts and 810 minutes played with four complete shutouts. McNac has allowed 16 goals and made 58 saves with a .784 save percentage.
Morningside
The Mustangs come into the week with a 5-1-2 showing and a 2-1 record on a two-game win streak against Briar Cliff (3-1) and Midland (6-1). Morningside’s lone loss in the GPAC came from the feet of Hastings (3-1). The match between Concordia will be the best offense versus the best defense in the conference as the Mustangs have allowed a GPAC-low five goals. With a 0.63 goals allowed average, they have five complete shutouts in eight games. Shooting 16.1 times per game, Morningside has a .163 shot percentage and a .462 shot on goal percentage. Keyera Harmon and Melissa Tsatiris are the primary finishers for the side with seven and six goals, respectively. Ida Carlsson (five) and Lisann Evert (four) pace the team in assists. Kyla Syverson is the primary keeper with 18 starts in 1,380 minutes played. Syverson has allowed 16 goals and grabbed 56 saves with a .778 save percentage.
Next Week
Concordia will travel to Hastings and welcome Waldorf in the following contest. The Bulldogs will be in Seward versus the Warriors and take the pitch at Lloyd Wilson Field.
Wednesday, Oct. 8
8 p.m. – at Hastings
Saturday, Oct. 11
8 p.m. – vs. Waldorf