Women’s Soccer falls in opener 4-1 to Concordia

Kansas Wesleyan Women's Soccer opened its season on Wednesday night against the Concordia Bulldogs. Concordia scored twice in each half to come away with a 4-1 win over the Coyotes at JRI Stadium at the Graves Family Sports Complex.

Concordia scored quickly on its first goal of the match in the fourth minute as Savannah Andrews converted after a defensive miscue by the Coyotes allowed her shot to an open net.

The Bulldogs made it 2-0 in the 16th minute as Elena Ruiz finished off a set piece on a corner kick thanks to assists from Hannah Haas and Grace Soenksen.

The Coyotes got their first goal of the season less than 30 seconds later. After a foul by Concordia, Yissel Navarro played the ball over the top of the back line defense of Concordia and found Graciela Lopez who one-timed it in for the goal.

In the 30th minute, it appeared the Coyotes had scored an equalizer goal. After a Concordia foul, Leoni Enzlmuller took the free kick sending it into the box. The ball bounced off a Concordia defender and to the goal line, but it was ruled the ball did not completely cross the line and was saved, resulting in a KWU corner.

The 2-1 score carried over to the half time break.

In the second half, Concordia added two more goals, in the 61st minute, a second of the match by Andrews, and then another in the 63rd minute by Kierstynn Garner who found the net after a series of saves by Wesleyan's Allison Blumenthal on other shots, the ball just getting away enough for Garner to be able to convert.

Concordia outshot the Coyotes 12-6 in the match. Four of KWU's six shots were on frame. Grace Conner led the way with two shots.

Blumenthal had five saves in goal for the Coyotes in 72 minutes, before giving way to Isabella Galvan.

KWU is back in action again on Monday, hosting Oklahoma Panhandle State University at 5 p.m. at JRI Stadium at the Graves Family Sports Complex.