Second-half goals push Bulldogs past the Tigers

Concordia women’s soccer battles with Doane

Photo: Kai Olbrich

By Victor Tavares Paiva

Coach Jason Weides and the Bulldogs women’s soccer team defeated Great Plains Athletic Conference rival Doane 2-0 on the road on Wednesday at Papik Field in Crete, Nebraska, in a hard-fought match that was won in the second period of play.

The match was highly competitive from start to finish, featuring plenty of physical play and scoring opportunities. The game finished with 17 total fouls, including seven committed by Concordia.

Sophomore goalkeeper Aaliyah Matthews was called into action throughout the match and delivered when her team needed her. Doane recorded three shots on goal, and Matthews saved them all to earn the shutout. On the other end of the field, the Bulldogs recorded eight shots on goal, with two finding the back of the net.

The game remained tightly contested until the 69th minute, when sophomore Kianna Perez broke the deadlock. Off a cross from sophomore Abby Haynes, Perez found the back of the net to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Haynes has now recorded a goal contribution in each of the Bulldogs’ last three games.

Just four minutes later, sophomore Guadalupe Sanchez received a pass from freshman Molli Kalsbeck and unleashed a long-range shot. The ball struck the crossbar, bounced down inside the goal, and came back out. The referee initially did not award the goal, but the assistant referee confirmed that the ball had crossed the goal line, giving the Bulldogs their second goal of the night.

With the victory, the Bulldogs improve to 2-0 in the GPAC. The women’s soccer team will return to action this Saturday, Sept. 26, at 5:30 pm at Bulldog Stadium in Seward, Nebraska.