SEWARD, Neb. – After falling twice last week against ranked GPAC foes, the Concordia University women’s soccer team returns to action this week with matchups against both of the league’s Sioux City, Iowa, institutions. The Bulldogs will host Morningside on Wednesday prior to a trip to Briar Cliff on Saturday. Head coach Chris Luther’s squad is exactly halfway through the conference slate and stands at 3-8-1 overall and at 3-2-1 in league action.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 16 vs. Morningside (4-7, 2-3 GPAC), 5:30 p.m.
-Live Stats/Webcast
Saturday, Oct. 19 at Briar Cliff (8-3, 5-1 GPAC), 1 p.m.
-Live Webcast | Live Stats
Two-loss weeks within the GPAC have been exceedingly rare for the Concordia women’s soccer program. Prior to last week, the Bulldogs had been 25-1-5 over their previous 31 GPAC regular-season outings (only defeat in 2018 versus Briar Cliff). However, Concordia showed growth in the defeats last week. The loss at No. 14 Hastings was decided by a 1-0 score in double overtime. In that contest, the Broncos were held to just four shots in the first half. The Bulldogs also dropped a 2-0 home decision to No. 22 Midland on Oct. 9. Concordia had been 6-1-1 in its previous eight matchups with the Warriors.
After going five-straight games without being shut out, the Bulldogs failed to find the back of the net in nearly 200 minutes of action last week. During that time, Concordia managed only a combined 10 shots (six on goal). Through 12 games, the Bulldogs are averaging 11.5 shots per game (31 of the 138 shots for the season came versus Mount Marty). That figure is down from the 2018 average of 17.3 shots per game. The team’s 10 goals have been spread out among eight players. In a statistical oddity, no Bulldog has more than two goals this season.
Morningside has been a perennially strong program. It defeated Concordia in the 2015 GPAC tournament championship game and then lost to the Bulldogs in the 2016 GPAC title clash. The two programs had two close battles last season with Concordia winning 3-2 (double overtime) and 1-0 (GPAC quarterfinals). This year’s Mustang squad has been outscored 17-14 over its first 11 games. Cassandra Garcia and Paytn Harmon lead the team with three goals apiece. Morningside is coming off a 2-0 home win over Presentation.
Briar Cliff is right in the thick of the race at the top of the conference. The Chargers enjoyed an impressive eight-day stretch in September during which they defeated both Midland and Hastings. Briar Cliff is 6-1 over its last seven games with the only downer being a 2-1 home loss to Jamestown. The Chargers are allowing their opponents only 0.82 goals per game and have held them to 92 total shots over 11 games. Flor Suarez paces the squad with five goals as part of a balanced attack.
Only four games will remain on Concordia’s regular-season slate after this week’s action. In next week’s play, the Bulldogs will play at College of Saint Mary on Oct. 23 and then host Jamestown on Oct. 26.