After a regular season that achieved more than the outside noise, the Concordia University Women’s Soccer team earned second place. The program will appear in the GPAC tournament for the 15th straight year while preparing to clash against seventh-seeded Jamestown in Bulldog Stadium.
Concordia Women's Soccer entered the night with hopes of winning the GPAC regular season title. The Bulldogs took care of their business with a 4-0 win at Doane while finishing in second place in the 2023 regular season.
Concordia finds itself in the final week of the 2023 season, traveling to Crete, Neb. to square off against Doane on Wednesday (Oct. 25). Last week, the Bulldogs clashed with a defensive minded Briar Cliff in a scoreless tie, then came home for senior day defeating Waldorf (2-1).
Three seniors were honored before the 2-1 win over Waldorf on Saturday (Oct. 21). Kassidy Johnson, Hannah Haas and Bradi Ore played in their final regular season match in Bulldog Stadium, as the sun came down in the final minutes.
The Bulldogs had less than desirable conditions in their early midweek match, as Concordia and Briar Cliff couldn’t find the back of the net through full time. The 0-0 bout brought offense that was as cloudy as the overhanging sky, leaving the teams knotted at Faber Field.
Crunch time is upon the Bulldogs, as they make the trip to Briar Cliff on Wednesday (Oct. 18) and play at home for the final time in the regular season against Waldorf on senior day (Oct. 21).
Kierstynn Garner (KG) played a major role in the high stakes matches this past week to earn the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women's Soccer Offensive Players of the Week announced by the league office on Tuesday (Oct. 17).
Concordia used their limited chances to roar back into the match at Hastings on Saturday night (Oct. 14). Kierstynn Garner (KG) scored two consecutive goals to knot the two teams (2-2), unable to get the third late to take the win on the road.
The Bulldogs came out swinging with an early goal by Sierra Springer and finished with a late score by Ashlee Trujillo, putting the game out of reach in the 2-0 victory over CSM.
After a loss and win this past week, Concordia sits tied with Hastings at the top of the league standings deep into their 2023 campaign. Their toughest week of the season comes against conference opponents College of Saint Mary (3rd) and Hastings (1st-tied) as the Bulldogs vie for the top spot.
The Concordia Women’s Soccer program isn’t going anywhere. That’s a message the 2023 Bulldogs delivered loud and clear while following the lead of the likes of Grace Soenksen and Kierstynn Garner. Concordia exceeded outside expectations.
Ninety-two career games played and four First Team All-GPAC awards to her credit, Grace Soenksen can humbly say that she left a legacy that will stand the test of time. Said Head Coach Nick Smith, "She’s going to go down as a legend."
The transitional phase for Concordia Women's Soccer began back in the spring as Nick Smith took the reins of the program. With the return of Grace Soenksen and a talented sophomore group, the Bulldogs are optimistic about this fall.
In the middle of March, Nick Smith found himself hitting the ground running with spring training sessions. The new Concordia Women's Soccer head coach sees a program with the right foundation for short- and long-term success.
There were ups and downs in 2022, but Concordia Women’s Soccer proved it could hang with anyone in the GPAC. The Bulldogs blended seniors and freshmen and put together the longest unbeaten run to begin a season in program history.
Fresh off a normal spring for the first time since 2019, the Bulldogs are working towards another season of GPAC championship contention. Coach Goines' squad returns a strong nucleus while welcoming an athletic freshman class.
At one point determined to go anywhere but Concordia, Grace Soenksen wound up following in the footsteps of four of her older siblings. She's proven, however, that she is not another Esther. Grace has made her mark in her own way.
The leadership group has begun to be reshaped as the program works on building an identity for the 2022 season. Captains Allee Downing and Grace Soenksen helped lead that process as part of a productive spring for Head Coach Thomas Goines' squad.
Gritty defensive performances and one-goal games were the story in 2021 for the Bulldogs, who competed closely with everyone in the GPAC. Concordia finished 9-7-2 overall while being led by an accomplished senior class.
Just over four months since celebrating a GPAC tournament title, Concordia Women's Soccer is ready to follow it up with a talented 2021 squad. All-GPAC standouts such as Allee Downing, Mikeila Martinez and Grace Soensken return.
Women's Soccer
Women's Soccer
Women's Soccer
