SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Soccer carries positive momentum into conference play after holding off rival York University for a 3-2 win this past Saturday. The Bulldogs have completed a grueling nonconference slate that featured five road trips. Head Coach Bernie Ochoa’s squad now stands at 2-4 heading into Saturday’s journey to Dordt. Both Concordia and Dordt have the middle of this week off before meeting up this weekend.
This Week
Saturday, Sept. 19 at Dordt (4-2-1, 0-0 GPAC), 4:15 p.m.
--Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Dordt Soccer Complex (Sioux Center, Iowa)
By the numbers
• Bernie Ochoa inherited one of the most challenging nonconference slates the program has ever faced. According to Massey Ratings, Concordia has played the NAIA’s 22nd most difficult schedule through this past weekend. (The first official NAIA RPI and SOS will be released on Sept. 22). The Bulldogs’ six nonconference foes have combined for a 19-8-8 overall record so far this season. The slate has included two teams that appeared in national championship games over the past two years: 2024 NAIA runner up William Penn University (Iowa) and 2025 NAIA national champion Grand View University (Iowa). Concordia managed to pick up a win over a perennial national qualifier in Bellevue University and another over a York University team that started 3-0.
• In an occurrence that happens somewhat infrequently in the current era, the Bulldogs played on grass while up against rival York on Sept. 12. The Panthers struck first with a goal from Felipe Cevallos in the 13th minute. However, Concordia responded emphatically, getting a goal apiece from Sean Stratman (28’), Sebastian Montino (51’) and William Preston (65’). York made the final moments tension-filled after it found the back of the net in the 84th minute to get back within one goal. The Bulldogs won despite a 22-6 shot disadvantage (8-4 in shots on goal). Corner kicks were slightly in favor of Concordia, 6-4.
• On the season, seven different Bulldogs have scored exactly one goal apiece. In addition to the goal scorers mentioned from the win at York (see above), a goal each has been notched by Hugo Garrote, Kai Olbrich, Karlo Rodriguez and Felipe Silva Mendes. The leading returner goal scorer from last season, Jasper Hofland (five goals in 2025), remains in search of his first goal this fall. A senior from Bennington, Neb., Olbrich recorded the 10th goal of his career as part of the home win over Bellevue. A 2025 Second Team All-GPAC honoree, Garrote has produced five goals and seven assists in 46 career games as a Bulldog.
• Ochoa spent the nonconference season attempting to find the right combinations of players and shapes on the pitch. Over the season’s first six outings, seven players have earned more than 300 minutes of playing time: Sean Stratman (512), Hugo Garrote (497), Niko Nareike (482), Michael Wyvill (418), Sebastian Montino (392), Kai Olbrich (391) and Lucas Montino (369). In goal, Concordia has mostly turned to Florian Quast (four starts) and Carter Wiebusch (two starts). Wiebusch started in the win at York and made six saves. Quast had started the previous three games with a combined 14 saves and five goals allowed.
• Placed at No. 1 in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll, the Bulldogs aspire to make a run at the program’s first ever GPAC regular season championship. In the previous 18 years under the direction of Head Coach Jason Weides (now Concordia’s women’s soccer coach), Concordia placed second in the regular season in 2017, 2022 and 2024. The program celebrated GPAC tournament championships in 2015, 2022 and 2025 and also placed as the conference tournament runner up in 2016, 2017 and 2024. The Bulldogs have finished at .500 or better in league play in every year since 2013.
The opponent
Dordt will take a 4-2-1 record into Saturday’s GPAC opener. A strong nonconference run for the Defenders included wins over University of Providence (Mont.), 2-1, University of Saint Mary (Kan.), 3-0, Avila University (Mo.), 7-0, and Viterbo University (Wis.), 2-0. Dordt is just one win off its total from 2025 when it went 5-6-6 overall (2-4-4 GPAC). Tim Lee currently serves as the program’s Interim Head Coach. The Defenders were placed eighth in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll. Dordt returned Honorable Mention All-GPAC honoree Julian Janssen. Offensively, the Defenders have been led by Pablo Martin, who has tallied five goals and four assists through seven games. In last season’s matchup in Seward, Concordia blanked Dordt, 2-0, with a goal apiece coming from Jasper Hofland and Oliver Balazs.
Next week
Conference play will intensify next week with the Bulldogs scheduled to play at Doane on Sept. 23 before returning home to host Morningside on Sept. 26. Nine of the season’s first 11 regular season games will take place on the road before four of the final five are staged inside Bulldog Stadium.