(Ann Arbor, MI) – The Concordia women's soccer season will appear a little different than what it has in year's past. Due to the global pandemic of COVID-19, the Cardinals will play an abbreviated season this fall with the rest of their games and WHAC tournament set for Spring 2021. Last year, the Cardinals finished in 7th place in the WHAC, led by fifth year head coach Kristin Abbott. The Cardinals boast one of the younger squads in the conference but will look for encouraging leadership from their two seniors
2019 Season Review
Concordia finished with a 9-9 overall record in 2019. The Cardinals went 3-3 in their non-conference games to kick off the season, headlined by a 1-0 victory over the 4th nationally ranked Cougars of Spring Arbor on the road. Concordia tallied a 6-5 record in conference games, tying them with Lawrence tech for 6th in the WHAC; however, the Cardinals would earn the 7th seed after dropping the head-to-head matchup with the Blue Devils. The Cardinals played Aquinas in the WHAC Quarterfinals. The Cardinals kept the game tied early in the second half but could not hold of the Saints potent offensive attack, falling 4-1 to end their season.
2020 Schedule Outlook
The Cardinals kick off the season at a later date due to the ever-changing protocols and safety procedures regarding coronavirus. CUAA will hit the road to face the Trailblazers of Ohio Christian on September 12th. After the Cardinals only non-conference fall game, they will open up their conference schedule against Rochester at Cardinal Stadium's first home game of the academic year.
Concordia will then depart from Ann Arbor for their next two games by traveling to Grand Rapids for a duel with the Golden Eagles from Cornerstone and trip to Adrian to face Siena Heights at O'Laughlin Stadium.
CUAA's final two games of the fall season will take place at Cardinal Stadium against Lourdes on October 24th and a spooky match against the Blue Devils of Lawrence Tech on October 31st.
The Cardinals will look to capture a spot among the conference's top-8 teams to secure a WHAC playoff appearance. Doing so will give Concordia a postseason appearance in each season over the past decade.
Concordia Personnel
The 2020 women's soccer team features a total of 22 total players that include 16 returners and 2 seniors captains, Samantha Golchuk (SR/Garden City, MI) and Sophia Bell (SR/Ofxord, MI). Senior Samantha Golchuk will be instrumental in the Cardinal's offensive attack. Last season, Golchuk netted a program record 20 goals that placed her atop both the WHAC and NCCAA. She also led both respective organizations in points with 45 points. #GOALchuk kept Cardinal's fans on the edge of their seats as she tallied 6 game winning goals which led the WHAC and was 3rd in the NCCAA.
Sierra Tischer (JR/West Bloomfield, MI), Amay Ciszewski (JR/Byron, MI), Allison Lentz (JR/Livonia, MI), Mackenzie Rahn (JR/Anchor Bay, MI), and Anna Roman (JR/Carleton, MI) round out the junior class for the Cardinals as all have taken immense steps and increase in their workloads throughout the course of last season. Kyra Jammer (JR/Frankenmuth, MI) will serve as a team manager this season.
Samantha Putnam (SO/Zeeland East, MI), Kendra Lewis (SO/Waterford, MI) (All-Conference Newcomer Team in 2019), Megan Starkey (SO/Macomb, MI), Halle Kallsen (SO/Waterford, MI), Hannah Smigielski (SO/St. Claire Shores, MI), Kiera Savage (SO/Canton, MI), Abigael Harkins (SO/Canton, MI), Isabel Stropich (SO/Brighton, MI), and Grace Dame (SO/Howell, MI) will look to build off of their Freshman seasons and continue to develop their skill and chemistry with one another in order to push both themselves and their teammates in becoming better as a group.
Danielle Bracken (FR/Pinckney, MI), Andrea Foster (FR/Anchor Bay, MI), Hayley Jacobson (FR/Howell, MI), Hunter Luke (FR/Byron, MI), Kelsie Montroy (FR/Trenton, MI), and Samantha Pomponio (FR/Novi, MI) are the new faces in Ann Arbor that are eager and excited to hit the turf at Cardinal Stadium and begin establishing their mark in the program's history.
Connect with the Cardinals
For the most updated information and news throughout the season follow the Concordia Women's Soccer team on their social media platforms. The Cardinals are on Twitter (@CUAAWS_), and Instagram (@cuaaws). Fans can also subscribe for text alerts and the Cardinals YouTube page for video interviews from players and coaches
