SEWARD, Neb. – After a rematch with Grand View University (Iowa) last week, the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team will see two more squads that it played during the 2021 spring semester. The Bulldogs are preparing to host Benedictine College (Kan.) on Wednesday before traveling to Winfield, Kan., on Saturday for a matchup with Southwestern College. Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad has not been in action since the 3-0 loss at Grand View on Aug. 31.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 8 vs. (25) Benedictine (3-1), 5:30 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats
Saturday, Sept. 11 at Southwestern (2-0-1), 2 p.m.
--Live Webcast
Note for fans: Advance tickets can be purchased online via Concordia’s HomeTown Ticketing page. Face coverings are optional inside Bulldog Stadium but must be worn when entering any on-campus indoor facilities. For Saturday’s game, Southwestern has no attendance limits. Face coverings are encouraged, but not required.
The Bulldogs (1-1) have eased into the regular season with two games over the first two weeks of the regular season. Concordia opened the season on Aug. 28 with a 2-1 win over Tabor College (Kan.). In last week’s defeat at Grand View, the Bulldogs managed only two shots while falling at the hands of the Vikings for the second time since March. Concordia was also defeated by Grand View, 2-1, in double overtime on March 27. The Vikings have actually been responsible for the two most recent Bulldog defeats.
A fourth-year member of the program, goalkeeper Kalie “Rocket” Ward has made the first two starts of her career to begin this season. Ward covered the first half of the win over Tabor and then played all 90 minutes at Grand View. She’s made a total of five saves. On the attacking end, Hannah Haas and Mikeila Martinez notched a goal apiece in the season opener. Martinez has 10 career goals to her credit. Meanwhile, Michaela Twito has pushed her career games played total to 81, three shy of Jeannelle Condame and Esther Soenksen for the school record.
Benedictine was ranked 25th in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll. Since a 1-0 loss to ninth-ranked John Brown University (Ark.) to open the season, the Ravens have cruised to three wins by a combined score of 13-1. Back in March, Benedictine eked past Concordia, 1-0. The Bulldogs are still looking for their first-ever win over the Ravens. Riley Degner has been the leader on the Benedictine offensive attack with three goals and two assists. Under Head Coach Lincoln Roblee, the Ravens have been a national tournament regular.
Southwestern plays its home games at Richard L. Jantz Stadium in Winfield, Kan., a place Concordia visited on March 6. The result was a 1-0 double overtime win for the Moundbuilders. So far this season, Southwestern has earned 1-0 wins over both Oklahoma City University and Southwestern Assemblies of God while tying Texas Wesleyan University. Goalkeeper Ashley Soderlund has conceded just one goal (17 saves) while playing all 290 minutes. The Moundbuilders went 11-5 last season.
The Bulldogs will wrap up nonconference play next Wednesday (Sept. 15) when they play at Bellevue University. GPAC play will get started on Sept. 18 when Mount Marty makes a visit to Seward.