Conference race tightens after 2-0 loss to Hastings

Avery Black takes a throw-in against Hastings.

Photo: Ben Frerking

By Keith Siek

Women’s soccer suffered its first conference loss at home against Hastings on Wednesday. Concordia’s advantage in the standings over Mount Marty and Hastings disappeared with the 2-0 loss, forming a close pack of teams vying for an up-for-grabs Great Plains Athletic Conference regular season title. 

The Bulldogs retain the top spot in the conference with a 6-1-1 record, but have played eight GPAC games, as opposed to the seven contests played by Mount Marty and Hastings. The Bulldogs would lose first place if Concordia’s closest rivals win their eighth conference game.

Coach Jason Weides said that the game against Hastings was a tough loss because of the opportunity to take firm control of the conference.

“This loss is a painful one,” Weides said. “This was an opportunity to stay in first, but now we are chasing.”

Concordia’s offense sent three shots toward the Broncos’ goal for the entire game. Hastings tallied 12 shots against the Bulldogs’ defense, with a dominant 7-1 advantage in the second half.

Weides said that his team struggled to match the Broncos’ on-ball pressure.

“I think they pressed us really well. We were not as composed on the ball, individually or collectively, as we can be,” Weides said. “We took a conservative posture both in our defensive positioning and in our attack.” 

The Bulldogs attacked the Broncos in a new shift, moving from their traditional 4-3-3 set to both a 3-4-1-2 and 3-5-2  formation. Sophomore center back Charli Preister said that his team played well in the new formation, after having limited practice time with it.

“We did pretty well with a new formation with not a lot of practice time,” Preister said. 

Concordia’s scoreless tie broke after Hastings knocked in a penalty kick 20 minutes into the game. The Bulldogs gave up a second goal to the Broncos on the final play of the first half. 

Preister said that the Bulldogs will use this game as motivation to get on the winning side of their remaining games.

“These losses help motivate us. I think we are excited and eager to get out there and win some more games,” Preister said. 

Concordia moves to 7-3-3 on the season, but still has a chance at double-digit wins with three games before the postseason. Weides said that his team will be ready to chase down any opponent ahead of the Bulldogs in the GPAC standings during the final stretch.

“We are going to chase really hard, and we’ll be ready,” Weides said.

The next contest for the Bulldogs is scheduled for 3 pm against Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa, on Oct. 17.