SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer has two games remaining on the season schedule, sitting in second place in the conference standings. The Bulldogs will have a bye before facing Northwestern on Saturday (Oct. 24). The Seward side split games this past week with a win and a loss to move to an 8-3-3 overall record and a 7-1-1 GPAC showing.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 21 – Bye
Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. Northwestern (9-7, 3-6 GPAC), 1 p.m.
--Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· Eight Concordia players found the back of the net in the 9-0 route over Waldorf on Saturday. The lone scorer to have two was winger Avery Black. Four Bulldogs had the first goals of their career including Black, Triniti Rowe, Braelyn Popple and Melissa Howard. Popple scored on a header with the first touch of her career. The visitors of Bolstorff Field had a 27-3 shot count advantage and a 6-1 corner edge. Others finding scores were Guadalupe Sanchez, Abby Haynes, Kyana Rios, and Addie Snyder. The assisting tallies went to Molli Kalsbeck (two), Sanchez, Rowe, Joey Long and Howard. In goal, Aliya Vidro gathered a shutout on two saves.
· Two unconventional goals made the difference in the battle for the top conference spot against Hastings. The Broncos scored on a penalty kick and in the literal final second of the first half off a long shot. The defensive battle would see no more scores as Concordia had its 10-game unbeaten streak snapped and was given its first loss of the conference slate. Hastings outshot the Bulldogs 12-3 (6-1 SOG). CUNE owned possession for the first half but were unable to capitalize in the star-studded clash.
· Hastings (7-0-1) sits at the top of the GPAC leaderboard having only surrendered points in a tie earlier this season. Concordia (7-1-1) and Morningside (6-0-1) sit right behind the Broncos. Mount Marty (6-2) rounds out the strong top four. Briar Cliff (4-3-1), Dakota Wesleyan (3-2-3) and College of Saint Mary (3-4-1) have each reached double figures in points. Northwestern (3-6) is just ahead of Doane (2-4-2) with the Tigers having one extra game left in the push toward the postseason.
· Evie Keller and Black are the lone Bulldogs who have started all 14 games. Others reaching double-digit starts are Snyder (13), Sanchez (13), Charli Preister (13), Rios (11), Aaliyah Matthews (11), Kalsbeck (11), Abby Haynes (11). Concordia players who have competed in all four games are Snyder, Sanchez, Rios, Preister, Sierra McElhannon, Long, Keller, Kalsbeck, and Black.
· The NAIA has updated the RPI rankings on Monday (Oct. 19) with the Bulldogs being selected at No. 37 after the split. With a strength of schedule slotted at No. 42, Concordia is just above Bellevue University. Others in the top-50 from the conference are No. 23 Hastings, No. 26 Morningside, and No. 31 Briar Cliff. The upcoming Northwestern is rated 97th. The most recent ARC ratings (Oct. 14) have Concordia at No. 7 behind No. 6 Hastings.
· Through 14 games this season, Concordia has outscored its opponents by a combined total of 31-16. The Bulldogs have been more dominant in conference games only, holding a 24-6 goal scoring advantage in nine GPAC outings. On the year, three Concordia players have found the back of the net at least four times: Guadalupe Sanchez (seven), Abby Haynes (five) and Molli Kalsbeck (four). Each of those three players has also contributed at least four assists, along with Rowe. They lead the team who’s second (.201) in shot percentage in the conference. At keeper, Aaliyah Matthews has started 11 games and has made 43 saves while sporting a .97 goals against average and .811 save percentage. She’s produced four clean sheets.
The opponents
Northwestern has a 9-7 overall record and a 3-6 slate results in conference. The Red Raiders broke a four-game losing streak against Doane (3-0) to claim their third win in the GPAC. Having given up 21 goals to their opponents this season, they have scored 26 on the season. NWC fires 11.3 shots per game, with a .550 shot on goal rate. The Red Raiders have 23 assists on the season, scoring via efforts from teammates a majority of the strikes. Grace Timm is the leading goal finisher with six and two assists. Northwestern has had 12 different players to find the back of the net. Ella Top and Bailey Bynum shared the spot in goal. Top has a 1.13 goals-allowed average with 12 total goals allowed and a .806 save percentage. All three are in the top-5 in each category of the GPAC.
Next week
After defending home field against the Red Raiders, the Bulldogs will host Midland for their final regular season game on the following Wednesday (Oct. 28). Following the contest, Concordia will find out what seed it has earned for the 2026 GPAC tournament.