SEWARD, Neb. – Seizing a national automatic qualifier after winning the GPAC tournament championship, the Bulldogs learned of their tournament draw on Friday (Nov. 14) night is unbeaten Eastern Oregon University. Concordia Nebraska Men’s Soccer is being sent to Olathe, Kan., on Thursday, Nov. 20 as part of the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship First Round. Game time is set for 1 p.m. CT.
Head Coach Jason Weides and the squad viewed the NAIA’s live selection show from the Concordia Athletics conference room. The winner between Concordia and Eastern Oregon will advance to play the site host, No. 2 MidAmerica Nazarene University, on Saturday, Nov. 22. The Bulldogs haven't been on the opposite field of the Mounties in the GPAC era.
Finishing its last 12 games with a 10-2 record and a conference championship, the Bulldogs completed a 12-8 overall showing. Concordia earned its third nationals bid by winning the GPAC tournament championship and it is the route all have taken to the final dance for the history of the Concordia Men’s Soccer program. In the playoffs, the Bulldogs took down Hastings (1-0) in overtime of the quarterfinals, Briar Cliff (3-2) in the semifinals and Morningside (2-1) in the finals.
CUNE has gone 0-2 in its previous two trips to the national tournament. While making their first-ever appearance at nationals, the 2015 Bulldogs were defeated by second-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan University, 3-0. Seven years later, Concordia ventured to Keiser University (Fla.) and lost by a 3-0 score at the hands of the ninth-ranked Seahawks. The Bulldogs will try and break through with their first national tournament win and first score in the final run.
o 2025 – 12-8 overall (7-3 GPAC; 3rd); GPAC tournament champion
o 2022 – 15-3-3 overall (8-1-2 GPAC; 2nd); GPAC tournament champion
o 2015 – 11-7-3 overall (4-4-2 GPAC; 6th); GPAC tournament champion
The Pioneers and Concordia had a home-and-home series in the years 2019 and 2020. The Bulldogs came out 2-0 with a 2-1 win in Bulldog Stadium (2019) and in Olathe, Kan. Fresh alum Ryan Wokutch scored the game winner in 2020, and Moises Jacobo hit the contest winner one year earlier.
The winners that emerge from the NAIA first/second round sites will advance to play at the final site of the national championship tournament, Orange Beach, Ala., Dec. 1-8.