SEWARD, Neb. – The Bulldogs continue to pick up steam just in time to start conference play on Saturday (Sept. 19) against Dordt in Sioux Center, Iowa. Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer tied Kansas Wesleyan University (1-1) and defeated Dakota State University (2-0) in the past two contests. CUNE has a 1-2-2 overall record going 1-0-2 in the last three matches.
This Week
Saturday, Sept. 19 at Dordt (1-2-2), 2 p.m.
--Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Dordt Soccer Complex (Sioux Center, IA)
By the numbers
• Down to the final 11 seconds, the Bulldogs looked like they were going to suffer their third loss of the season to the Coyotes. Not on Abby Haynes’ watch. A pair of sophomores connected in the final seconds as Guadalupe Sanchez lofted an assist to Haynes making sure she punched in the late equalizer. Quality shots were limited throughout the match with three tries on goal apiece were fired from each team. The other two tries came from Avery Black and Sanchez. Goalkeeper Aaliyah Matthews grabbed two saves and preserved one point for the squad.
• The energy was palatable from start to finish on senior day versus the Trojans on Saturday. Concordia came out with a majority of possession but couldn’t find the right touch on the final pass, credit to the DSU goalkeeper. In the second half, freshman Molli Kalsbeck broke through with the eventual game winner from Triniti Rowe and Haynes. The dangerous Kearney High product continues to stir up trouble for opposing defenses the moment she takes off on a run. Kyana Rios tagged in another score for the Bulldogs via Guadalupe Sanchez. The Seward side was ahead on the stat sheet in shots (12-3), shots on goal (4-1) and corner kicks (7-1). The lead shot takers for Concordia were Kalsbeck (three), Addie Snyder (two) and Sanchez (two). Six seniors were celebrated including Joey Long, Grady Smith, Sadie Mares, Olivia Kohl, Camryn Higer and Olivia Pyle.
• In the clash with Bellevue, the Bulldogs got a couple of key players back onto the field with sophomores Abby Haynes and McKennah West both making their season debuts. Weides has made the best of a roster that has been shorthanded due to injuries and other factors. As a result, Concordia has shuffled the deck while putting certain players in unfamiliar situations. Weides believes the team can reach another level as the season progresses. Through three games, there are five Bulldogs who have started each time out: Avery Black, Evie Keller, Sadie Mares, Sierra McElhannon and Kyana Rios. Reinforcements have come on including University of Nebraska-Lincoln transfer Kianna Perez, Haynes and West.
• A junior from Colorado Springs, Colo., Aliya Vidro got the start in goal versus Bellevue and responded with five saves. Vidro has now started 14 games in her collegiate career. Vidro earned extensive playing time last season as a sophomore when she made 12 starts and produced 41 saves to go with a .774 save percentage and 0.98 goals against average. A transfer from Augustana University (S.D.), Aaliyah Matthews has also started eight games in goal since becoming a Bulldog.
• Coming into her sophomore season, forward Sanchez has been an integral part of the Concordia offense. The small 5-foot-3 feisty striker has contributed two goals and three assists (fifth in GPAC) in the first five games. A Grand Island Northwest High Product, Sanchez is a finisher who has nine career goals and seven assists in the short time as a Bulldog. The all-conference returner has started four games and competed in all five including 311 minutes played.
• Evie Keller has moved to the center back position from the midfield in her second year. The Grand Island, Neb., native is the only Concordia athlete to play all 450 minutes through the first five games. She has been instrumental in the Bulldog defense that has only allowed two goals in the past three games. Reaching the first shutout against the Trojans, the back line and goalkeepers continue to improve coming together to silence the opposition. The defense has only allowed four shots on goal in the last two contests.
Dordt
The Defenders are 1-2-2 overall coming off a tie with common opponent Dakota State (1-1) on Tuesday. Dordt will host the Bulldogs at the Dordt Soccer Complex with a grass surface against second-year Head Coach Payton Chitwood. Averaging 15.6 shots per game, the side out of Sioux Center has scored seven goals, while allowing 10 to its opposition. The Defenders star Joslyn Vander Molen has eight points with three goals and two assists. Maria Zylstra has a finish and two assists, as well as Jenna Roberts with two goals in only 53 minutes played this season. Dordt fires a .551 shot on goal percentage in its 78 shots. The position of net protector has been shared between Lizzie Graham (270 minutes) and Abi Green Martinez (180 minutes). Graham leads with 14 saves, four goals allowed, and a .778 save percentage.
Next week
There are two matches in the next coming week with another road bout against Doane before returning home to host Morningside. The Bulldogs will make the short trip to Crete on Sept. 23 and compete in Bulldog Stadium on Sept. 26 in the GPAC home opener.