Season Ends for Warriors in GPAC Quarterfinals

HASTINGS, Neb. – Midland University was on the road at Hastings College for the first round of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Tournament on Saturday night. The 8th-seeded Warriors suffered a tough 4-0 defeat against the top-seeded Broncos.

Hastings struck first, scoring in the 19th minute to take a 1-0 lead. As the first half drew to a close, they added another goal in the 40th minute, heading into halftime with a 2-0 advantage. Despite Midland outpacing Hastings in shot attempts, leading 7-3, the Broncos had all three of their shots on target.

After the break, Hastings maintained their momentum, scoring two more goals in the 80th and 90th minutes to secure a decisive 4-0 victory. Although Midland finished with a slight edge in overall shots, 13-11, they struggled to find the back of the net, while Hastings led in corner kicks 8-1.

Kyla Pires put in a solid performance in goal, making four saves over the full 90 minutes. She concluded the season with 59 saves in 12 games and wrapped up her career with 106 saves across 24 games.

"We were competitive throughout the entire game. The girls played with grit, intensity, and determination," commented first-year head coach Keri Heedum. "Although we fell short tonight, I'm incredibly grateful for our journey this season. To our seniors, thank you for your leadership, dedication, and the memories we created together. Your impact on this team will forever be remembered."

Midland concludes its season with a record of 4-5-3, including a conference mark of 4-4-3. Throughout the season, they scored 22 goals, led by Jaya Soor with six goals, followed by Aminata Lewis and Rosa Schellmann with four each, and NaTaija Blaylock with three. Coach Heedum and the returning players will take some time to recover from the long season before training for next season.