Trip to Des Moines on tap for week's lone outing

By Jacob Knabel on Aug. 30, 2021 in Women's Soccer

SEWARD, Neb. – Fresh off its season opening home win over Tabor College (Kan.), the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team now looks forward to its first road test. The Bulldogs will head to Des Moines, Iowa, for a 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Grand View on Tuesday. The Vikings play their home games at Crownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines.

This Week

Tuesday, Aug. 31 at Grand View (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Online Tickets

Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad quickly got into the win column via a 2-1 decision over Tabor on Aug. 28. Concordia got a goal apiece from Hannah Haas (32’) and Mikeila Martinez (57’) while building a 2-0 advantage. The Bluejays happened to find the back of the net on their only shot on goal of the entire game. The Bulldogs owned a 15-4 edge in the shot count. While breaking in a new-look team, Goines used 24 different players on a steamy and muggy day inside Bulldog Stadium. Kalie Ward got the start in goal, marking her first career collegiate start.

Meanwhile, fifth-year member of the program Michaela Twito appeared in her 80th game as a Bulldog. She’s one of five players in program history to play in at least 80 games. The others are Jeannelle Condame (84), Esther Soenksen (84), Maria Deeter (81) and Jordan McCoy (80). Also one of the more experienced players on the roster, Martinez banked the 10th goal of her career last week. She paced Concordia with seven goals last season and was named First Team All-GPAC. The season opening starting 11 also featured 2020 First/Second Team All-GPAC performers in Grace Soenksen and Allee Downing.

The hope for the Bulldogs is to avenge their 2-1 double overtime loss to Grand View that occurred back in the spring. The game winner was delivered by Samantha Milani. The Vikings finished last season at 9-6-1 overall. Head Coach Ventsi Stoimirov is in his 24th season leading the program. So far this season, Grand View has beaten Waldorf University (Iowa), 3-0, and fell at the hands of Saint Ambrose University (Iowa), 4-0. Both of those games took place in Des Moines. The Vikings were picked to finish eighth out of 13 teams in the Heart of America Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll.

Following Tuesday’s road trip, the Bulldogs will have a break in the action and wait until Sept. 8 to resume the season. On that date, Concordia will host Benedictine College (Kan.). The Bulldogs are slated to play five nonconference games prior to the start of GPAC play on Sept. 18.