SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Soccer basked in the achievement of the program’s first ever perfect (unbeaten, no draws) run through conference regular season play. The Bulldogs moved to 10-0 in the GPAC after defeating Midland, 3-1, in Wednesday night’s regular season finale. Head Coach Bernie Ochoa’s squad will refocus for the postseason while preparing to host eighth-seeded Doane in the GPAC quarterfinals on Saturday. As the league’s top seed, Concordia has earned the right to host throughout conference tournament action.
GPAC Quarterfinals
Saturday, Oct. 31 vs. Doane (4-9-3, 3-6-1 GPAC), 6 p.m.
--Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
• The Bulldogs have cracked the top 25 for the first time this season and for the first time since the 2023 squad spent nearly all of that season with an NAIA top 25 ranking. The ’23 team climbed as high as No. 18, which represented the loftiest national ranking in the history of the program. That particular team went unbeaten during the regular season and was ranked 21st in the final coaches’ poll. Three other Concordia teams have finished with “receiving votes” distinction: 2015, 2017 and 2022. The 2017 Bulldogs remain the school record holder for most wins in a single season, finishing at 16-3-1. The ’22 GPAC postseason championship team went 15-3-3 overall.
• During a highly successful 18-year run for previous Head Coach Jason Weides, Concordia Men’s Soccer won GPAC tournament championships in 2015, 2022 and 2025. The program checked a new box this fall by locking up the program’s first ever GPAC regular season title. There were plenty of close calls under Weides, as the Bulldogs placed second in the standings in 2017, 2022 and 2024 and third in 2016, 2023 and 2025. For the fifth consecutive year, Concordia will host a GPAC tournament quarterfinal match. Back in the preseason, league coaches pegged the Bulldogs at No. 1 (four first-place votes) in a close poll that also saw Northwestern and Morningside receive first-place nods.
• An outright GPAC title had been secured prior to the regular season finale, but Concordia aspired to strengthen the postseason résumé. The Bulldogs completed the unbeaten conference run with a 3-1 victory over the rival Warriors. Concordia got a goal apiece from Kai Olbrich (2’), Niko Nareike (21’) and Milo Hegarty (83’). Midland had closed within a goal at 2-1 when Akseli Partanen slotted a penalty kick into the back of the net in the 59th minute. Hegarty put the game on ice with his late goal. The Bulldogs outnumbered the Warriors in shots, 29-19, and shots on goal, 11-7. Concordia goalkeeper Florian Quast (62 minutes) collected five saves on the night before being relieved by Carter Wiebusch.
• The dominance of the Bulldogs throughout GPAC play is reflected in the statistics. While going 10-0 in league play, Concordia outscored its opponents by a combined total of 44-7 while recording five shutouts. The team’s top goal scorers during league play were Joe McCaroll (eight), Kai Olbrich (six), Sebastian Montino (five) and Hugo Garrote (four). In conference games only, the Bulldogs easily led the GPAC in goals scored per game (4.40) and ranked first in goals against average (0.70). Concordia’s 51 goals scored are two shy of the school record for a single season. The standard of 53 is held by the 1979 team coached by Dr. Jack Kinworthy.
• To ensure a spot in the national tournament, the Bulldogs are resolved to earn a sweep of GPAC regular season and tournament championships (the league’s one auto bid is handed out to the postseason champion). In addition to the three previous GPAC tournament titles won by the program, Concordia teams led by Weides reached the conference tournament final in 2016, 2017 and 2024. The Bulldogs have qualified for the GPAC tournament for the 17th year in a row. Over the past 16 qualifications, Concordia advanced to at least the semifinal round a total of eight times. In the 2025 GPAC tournament, the Bulldogs defeated Hastings, 1-0 (OT), Briar Cliff, 3-2, and Morningside, 2-1.
• In addition to having won 16 consecutive games against conference opponents, the Bulldogs have won 16 straight home contests. The 2026 team now stands at 6-0 at home after having played most of its nonconference schedule on the road. Last season, Concordia dropped its season opener at home (1-0 to Columbia College) and then proceeded to triumph in each of its final nine home outings, including three in the GPAC tournament.
Quarterfinal opponent
Doane nearly knocked off the Bulldogs back on Sept. 23 in Crete. Doane enjoyed a 1-0 lead thanks to a goal in the 77th minute. It took a late Concordia flurry to reverse the result as Elijah Fulton (81’) and William Preston (86’) found the back of the net over the game’s final 10 minutes. The Tigers placed eighth in the GPAC with a conference mark of 3-6-1 (4-9-3 overall). Their three conference wins came in succession – over Dakota Wesleyan, 1-0, Waldorf, 8-1, and Hastings, 6-3. Doane boasts the conference’s leading goal scorer: Mateo Jelicich with 14 goals. On the season, the Tigers have scored 31 goals and have allowed 37. The winner of Saturday’s game will advance to play in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 6.
2026 GPAC Tournament
View GPAC Release HERE.
--The conference tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship.
Quarterfinals – Saturday, Oct. 31
(8) Doane at (1) Concordia, 6 p.m.
(5) Briar Cliff at (4) Dakota Wesleyan, 7 p.m.
(6) Northwestern at (3) Morningside, 1 p.m.
(7) Midland at (2) Dordt, 5 p.m.
Semifinals – Friday, Nov. 6
1/8 winner vs. 4/5 winner, time TBA
2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner, time TBA
Championship – Tuesday, Nov. 10
Highest seed hosts, time TBA