SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Soccer took rival Doane’s best shot in Wednesday (Oct. 29)’s regular season finale for both sides. After surrendering a 2-0 lead, the Bulldogs found the deciding goal in the 79th minute via penalty kick. The 3-2 victory on a chilly fall evening at Bulldog Stadium locked Concordia into the GPAC’s No. 3 seed. Ricards Busmeisters put away the game winner.
Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad ended the regular season at 7-3 in conference play (9-8 overall). Whatever the result on Wednesday, the Bulldogs (10-0-4 versus Doane since 2012) were guaranteed to host a GPAC tournament game.
“No matter where the team’s sit in the table, it’s always a tough game,” Weides said. "They were in a position where minimally they needed a point but likely needed a win to advance to the next (quarterfinal) round. We knew we were going to get the best of them and we knew this game mattered a lot. Their season was on the line, and it’s really hard to equal that in terms of what you’re willing to give. I thought it was a gritty performance. It was a shame we surrendered a two-goal lead like that, but we found a way to get it done.”
Weides could have done without the type of drama that had not been foreseen early in the second half when Concordia went up 2-0. Doane managed to loosen the Bulldogs’ grip when Guillermo Hamue’s strike in the 62nd mark. The ball got redirected, making for an exceedingly difficult chance for Concordia keeper Inigo Chavarria. Eight minutes later, the visitors roared back into a tie when Mateo Jelicich set Mateo Garcia D’Eletto up with an uncontested look at the goal.
In the game’s most critical moment, a streaking Jasper Hofland was upended on a slide tackle from behind in the 79th minute. A penalty kick was awarded and Busmeisters calmly slotted the ball to the right of Tiger keeper Curtis Oberg for his team leading seventh goal of 2025. In one final close call, Chavarria reacted quickly to a header at the 84-minute mark, preserving the victory. Doane ended its season at 2-10-4, 1-5-4 GPAC.
In the first half, sophomore Sam Hamilton got on the board with his first goal as a Bulldog after the ball pin-balled back to him. From roughly 20 yards out, Hamilton drilled a shot inside the left post. The strike came soon after a corner kick off the foot of Oliver Benson. The speed of Hofland also led to Concordia’s second goal (47’). A well-executed ball from Hugo Garrote facilitated Hofland, who played a touch past the Tiger keeper and deposited the ball into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season.
The Bulldogs enjoyed the advantage in possession overall and held a 13-11 shot advantage (with corners in Doane’s favor, 10-4). Concordia fouls on the outer edges of 18 gave the Tigers multiple strong chances they let slip through their fingers. The reigning GPAC Defensive Player of the Week, Chavarria made six saves in another sterling effort.
A native of Jaca, Spaine, Chavarria has the benefit of two experienced center backs, Adrian Wambua and Michael Wyvill, directly in front of him. Chavarria entered the night leading all GPAC keepers in goals against average. The Bulldogs hope they can lean on strong defensive play in the postseason.
Said Wambua, “We have an amazing set of keepers and an amazing set of defenders. We’ve grown together. Me and Mike have been together at center back two years now. The relationship we have means a lot. Inigo came in and bonded with everyone. He bonded with Nolan (Fuelberth) … We worked everything out to get the win.”
Said Weides of the upcoming postseason, “We want to get back there (to the GPAC final). It’s a fun place to be. Before we get back there, we’ve got to play really well in a quarterfinal match. That’s our focus. Ultimately, we have to defend like champions and we have to transition like champions. We have to take our chances and put it in the back of the net. These are the moments where all the lessons you’ve learned through the season – you can apply them.”
The season begins anew with postseason play opening on Saturday. As part of the GPAC quarterfinals, the third-seeded Bulldogs will welcome sixth-seed Hastings (8-4-5, 4-3-3 GPAC) to Bulldog Stadium for a 6 p.m. CT kickoff. Concordia won the regular season meeting by a 3-1 score.