SEWARD, Neb. – Dominance versus conference opponents has carried the 22nd-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Soccer team into the GPAC semifinals. The program has reached this point for the ninth time since the GPAC’s inaugural year in 2000. Head Coach Bernie Ochoa’s squad (13-4 overall) throttled rival Doane in the quarterfinals, 8-0, this past Saturday. The result sets up a conference semifinal home matchup with Dakota Wesleyan on Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT from Bulldog Stadium.
GPAC Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 6 vs. Dakota Wesleyan (7-5-3, 6-3-1 GPAC), 7 p.m.
--Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
• Way back in game No. 2 of the conference schedule, the Bulldogs squeaked past Doane, 2-1, in Crete. This time around, it was no contest. The Tigers hung within two goals (2-0) at halftime before the wheels came off. The goals came courtesy of Hugo Garrote (26’ and 38’), Elijah Fulton (51’), Milo Hegarty (63’), Jasper Hofland (73’), Kade Olbrich (79’ and 87’) and Victor Tavares (86’). Defensively, Concordia notched its seventh clean sheet of the season. The Tigers (4-10-3) were limited to just three shots (two on goal). Keeper Florian Quast made one save while being kept clean over his 82 minutes of play.
• The 2026 Bulldogs have put themselves atop the school record board for most goals scored in a single season. The total climbed to 59 after the quarterfinal win. That total eclipses the previous standard of 53 set by the 1979 team coached by Dr. Jack Kinworthy. Incredibly, the ’26 team does not have a single player with more than eight goals. Eleven different Concordia players have notched at least three goals. Tops on the list are Joe McCarroll (eight), Hugo Garrote (seven), Kai Olbrich (seven) and Sebastian Montino (six). Garrote leads the team with five assists.
• The Bulldogs have cracked the top 25 (at 22) 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.
• 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).
• 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 (with 2026 marking the ninth time). In the 2025 GPAC tournament, the Bulldogs defeated Hastings, 1-0 (OT), Briar Cliff, 3-2, and Morningside, 2-1. Notably, Concordia now sits at No. 13 in the official NAIA RPI.
• In addition to having won 17 consecutive games against conference opponents, the Bulldogs have won 17 straight home contests. The 2026 team now stands at 7-0 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 10 home outings, including three in the GPAC tournament.
Semifinal opponent
Dakota Wesleyan played as competitively with Concordia as any team in the conference during the regular season. The Bulldogs edged the Tigers, 3-2, in Seward on Oct. 10. In that contest, DWU had two second half goals disallowed due to offside infractions. Among GPAC teams, the Tigers rank third in goals against average (1.39) and sixth in goals scored per game (2.07). Twelve of the team’s 31 goals this season have come from sophomore Evan Bolster (who has also recorded three assists). Bolster earned First Team All-GPAC honors last season as a freshman. A Second Team All-GPAC award winner last season, Luis Waeschle has contributed four goals and two assists. In goal, Carter Hanson has been solid while sporting a 1.53 goals against average with 46 saves. Friday’s winner will advance to play either second-seeded Dordt or sixth-seeded Northwestern in the championship game on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
2026 GPAC Tournament
View GPAC Release HERE.
--The conference tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship.
Quarterfinals – Saturday, Oct. 31
(1) Concordia def. (8) Doane, 8-0
(4) Dakota Wesleyan tied (5) Briar Cliff, 2-2 (DWU advanced on PK’s)
(6) Northwestern def. (3) Morningside, 3-1
(2) Dordt def. (7) Midland, 1-0
Semifinals – Friday, Nov. 6
(4) Dakota Wesleyan at (1) Concordia, 7 p.m.
(6) Northwestern at (2) Dordt, 6 p.m.
Championship – Tuesday, Nov. 10
Highest seed hosts, time TBA