SEWARD, Neb. – The page has been turned to the conference slate throughout the GPAC women’s soccer landscape. Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer continued its growth this past weekend, earning a 3-1 win at Dordt in the kickoff to the GPAC season. Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad has won back-to-back games heading into the first full week of conference play. The Bulldogs will make a short trip to Doane on Wednesday before hosting defending GPAC champion Morningside on Saturday. Concordia’s overall record stands at 2-2-2.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 23 at Doane (0-6-1, 0-1 GPAC), 5 p.m.
--Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Papik Field (Crete, Neb.)
Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Morningside (4-1-1, 1-0 GPAC), 5 p.m.
--Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
• The Bulldogs hope to be rounding into form now that conference play has arrived. The other winners last week in GPAC action were College of Saint Mary, Hastings, Morningside, Mount Marty and Northwestern (there were no ties). The top five in the GPAC preseason poll were Hastings, Morningside, Concordia, Dordt and Doane. The Bulldogs are no stranger when it comes to living near the top of the standings. The Bulldogs placed second in the regular season standings in each of the previous three years. Concordia hoisted the GPAC regular season championship trophy in 2017 and was the conference tournament champion in 2014, 2016 and 2020.
• In the GPAC opener at Dordt, the Bulldogs exerted control of possession, as evidenced by their advantages of 14-7 in shots and 9-3 in shots on goal. Concordia built the lead to 3-0 thanks to a goal apiece from Addie Snyder (3’), Kianna Perez (37’) and Abby Haynes (87’). The Columbus, Neb., native Haynes also assisted on the game’s first goal. Both Snyder and Perez put their names in the goal scoring column for the first time as Bulldogs. Five Concordia stalwarts played all 90 minutes: Avery Black, Evie Keller, Sierra McElhannon, Charli Preister and goalkeeper Aliya Vidro. That group helped hold Dordt scoreless until Lexi Terpstra’s goal in the final 30 seconds of the match. Vidro came up with a pair of saves.
• A Lincoln Southwest High School product, Kianna Perez is a player to watch as an attacking midfielder. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln transfer made her Bulldog debut in the draw at Kansas Wesleyan University and was immediately inserted into the starting lineup. Since Perez’s addition to the lineup, Concordia has gone 2-0-1. Perez’s decorated high school career saw her earn two first team all-state awards and recognition as a Nebraska Super State selection. She helped the Silverhawks win two state championships. The former Husker was once committed to the University of Nebraska Omaha before ultimately choosing the Bulldogs.
• One of three Columbus natives on the roster, Abby Haynes is another player who continues to trend positively. She received praise from Weides after the win at Dordt. An injury slowed Haynes down to begin this fall, but she’s been a key figure since returning to the field in the 1-1 draw with Bellevue University on Sept. 2. Over the past three games, Haynes has supplied two goals and two assists. The other Columbus natives are Joey Long and Charli Preister. A total of 15 Bulldogs hail from the state of Nebraska.
• Concordia has depth at the keeper position, where Aaliyah Matthews (four starts) and Aliya Vidro (two starts) have shared time. Vidro got the nod last week at Dordt. Regardless of who has played keeper, the results have been strong lately with the Bulldogs having surrendered a combined three goals over their past four games. Several others have contributed significantly to the defensive efforts. Sophomore Evie Keller has played all 540 minutes this season while making the switch from midfielder to center back. Five others have played more than 450 minutes: Avery Black (536), Kyana Rios (500), Sadie Mares (478), Addie Snyder (472) and Molli Kalsbeck (460).
The opponents
Doane took a solid step forward last season, finishing at 6-4-1 in league play while narrowly missing out on an opportunity to place in the top four and host a GPAC tournament quarterfinal game. Results have been more difficult to come by this fall with the Tigers currently standing at 0-6-1 (0-1 GPAC) heading into Wednesday’s action. Doane opened GPAC play with a 4-0 loss at Morningside this past weekend. The Tigers have been outscored 25-5 through their first seven contests. Doane returned 2025 Second Team All-GPAC goalkeeper Virgina Johnson. Offensively, Anali Astorga and Megan Townsend lead the team with two goals apiece. Concordia is 19-16 all-time versus the Tigers. Jennifer Kennedy-Croft has served as Doane’s head coach since 2016.
Morningside was pegged second in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll after reigning atop the 2025 conference standings with an 8-1-2 league mark. Fresh off a 4-0 blanking of Doane, the Mustangs carry a four-game winning streak into their Wednesday matchup with intracity rival Briar Cliff. The Morningside roster features returning All-GPAC players in Tuva Hammarlund (first team), Emma Marlene Feigl (second team) and Trinay Garcia (second team). The 2025 GPAC Coach of the Year, Tom Maxon has coached both the men’s and women’s soccer programs since 2000. His women’s teams made trips to the national tournament in 2006, 2007, 2015 and 2025. So far this season, Morningside’s top goal scorers have been Fenna Van Mill and Ida Carlsson with four apiece. The Mustangs got the best of the Bulldogs, 3-1, in last season’s matchup in Sioux City, Iowa.
Next week
The Bulldogs will play twice again next week as College of Saint Mary (Sept. 30) and Briar Cliff (Oct. 3) serve as the opposition during the second full week of conference play. The Flames will visit Bulldog Stadium while the Chargers will welcome Concordia to Sioux City.