Concordia fends off late push, defeats 2021 national qualifier

By Jacob Knabel on Sep. 4, 2022 in Men's Soccer

HILLSBORO, Kan. – It got a bit hairier than the Concordia University Men’s Soccer team would have wanted, but the final result was a satisfying one for the visitors. Three different Bulldogs notched a goal in what amounted to a 3-2 win at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., on Saturday (Sept. 3). Two late goals by the Bluejays made it a stressful final 10 minutes.

Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad still has yet to make its 2022 home debut. Concordia is 2-1 having also earned a win over Northwest University (Wash.) as part of the season opening journey to Salem, Ore.

“Tabor’s a good team. They made the national tournament last year for a reason,” Weides said. “They have some dangerous players. I thought our guys came out flying – we almost scored in the first 35 seconds of the match. They were definitely up for it. Tabor kind of settled into the game and we finally got the breakthrough goal before half.”

Last season in Seward, the Bulldogs had beaten Tabor in a 4-0 rout. This one had similar vibes in the 68th minute when Concordia capitalized on a penalty kick opportunity. Daniel Campbell drew the foul in the box and Carlos Orquiz subsequently drilled the PK. Miguel Navarro (35’) and Dominic Abdel-Ahad (67’) previously found the back of the net for their first career goals as Bulldogs.

Tabor didn’t quit. IT got a goal from Aitor Jorde in the 75th minute and one from Allan Cooper in the 80th minute. Over the final 10 minutes, no shots were recorded although the Bluejays did have a corner kick in the 85th minute. Concordia had managed to survive the scare while outshooting Tabor, 14-11, overall and outnumbering it, 5-4, in shots on goal.

The tense moments down the stretch could have perhaps been avoided. Weides sees it as a potential learning opportunity.

“We really looked in control at that point,” said Weides of the 3-0 lead. “Unfortunately it didn’t stay that way. Those lost 20 minutes were a bit hectic. They got a goal to make it 3-1 and it breathed a little life into them. We were maybe not quite as composed as we needed to be. Suddenly it was 3-2 and we were just defending. It was an anxious last few minutes, but we fought it out and did just enough to get the win. Once we were up 3-0, I did not expect us to be in a moment where we were fighting for our lives, but we were in that moment. It was a good lesson for us for how we can be better to see out games.”

Through three games, the Bulldogs have started three different keepers. Gabe Mendoza got the call on Saturday and played all 90 minutes. He made two saves. From an attacking perspective, Abdel-Ahad (six shots, two on goal) and Navarro (three shots, two on goal) were the most active players for Concordia. For Tabor, Jorde got four shots off.

The Bluejays (1-2) own defeated Briar Cliff, 1-0, a week ago. Tabor recovered well from its loss in Seward in 2021 and went on to go 12-8-1 overall with an appearance in the opening round of the national tournament.

The longstanding rivalry between Concordia and York College will be renewed on Tuesday when the Bulldogs and Panthers convene in York, Neb., for a 5:30 p.m. CT kickoff. A year ago, Concordia opened the 2021 season with a 4-2 home win over York. In his tenure, Weides has lost just once to the Panthers.