Having already topped her season goal total from 2014, sophomore Esther Soenksen has ridden a hot start to 2015 to GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week recognition, as announced by the conference on Tuesday. It’s the first career weekly award for the former Lincoln Lutheran High School standout.
In last week’s only contest, Soenksen fueled the 7-0 blowout victory over York College with four goals, including two in each half. The Lincoln native now has seven goals over the season’s first three games for the 21st-ranked Bulldogs. She ranks third among all NAIA women’s soccer players in goals and fifth in goals per game. Soenksen has been incredibly efficient with seven of her nine shots on goal finding the back of the net.
After playing in the midfield last year as a freshman, Soenksen has thrived in more of an attacking role for head coach Greg Henson’s squad, which is off to a 3-0 start.
“We definitely made an effort to move Esther a little bit more forward,” Henson said after the win over York. “She has the ability to do well up there and score goals for us. She showcased that.”
Soenksen now has 11 career goals in 25 games as a Bulldog. She has started every game since arriving at Concordia last fall.
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday when they host No. 6 Benedictine College (Kan.) (5-0). Kickoff from Bulldog Stadium is slated for 1 p.m.