SEWARD, Neb. – In their first postseason game since 2014, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's soccer team looked to make a trip to the Great Plains Athletic Conference semifinals. However, DWU fell in a tightly contested matchup against Concordia University, losing 2-1 on Saturday from Bulldog Stadium in Seward, Neb.
It was a quick pair of shots for Dakota Wesleyan as Deandrea Johnson (Antioch, Calif.) and Alondra Partida (Salinas, Calif.) each sent shots sailing towards the goal. However, both shots went wide of their target as the score remained tied.
Following the quick flurry of shots by DWU, it was time for the Bulldogs (10-6-1) to have their chance at goal. They tallied a pair of corner kicks and a shot in a two-minute span to put the pressure on the DWU defense.
The Bulldogs continued their pressure as they reeled off two more shots and three corner kicks over the next three minutes. The Tiger (9-8) defense held strong until the 19th minute when one of the Concordia shots found the back of the net as they took a 1-0 lead.
Both teams settled into the game following the goal as neither team scored again in the opening 45 minutes. However, five minutes before halftime, Partida tested the Concordia goalie as she drilled a shot towards the net, but it was saved as the score remained 1-0 at halftime.
Partida would not be denied as she opened the second half with a goal less than two minutes into action. With a free kick from about 25 yards out, she sailed a shot into the box as it found its way past the goalie to even the score at 1-1.
The game did not remain tied long as the Bulldogs went down to the other end of the field and regained the lead with a goal just two minutes later. Concordia remained in control for most of the second half until Jozy Bardsley (Tea, S.D.) gave one final shot but sent her kick wide right. With the 2-1 final score, the DWU season comes to a close with a 9-8 record overall.
Partida led the Tiger offense as she tallied three shots and a goal, while Johnson and Bardsley each recorded a shot. In the net, Hannah Bowes (Omaha, Neb.) finished with five saves on seven shots on goal.