SEWARD, Neb. – The Bulldogs will host Mount Marty and make a road trip to Morningside looking to continue the momentum gained from this past week. Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Soccer notched its first conference win against Briar Cliff (1-0) in Bulldog Stadium. The boys in Bulldog blue are 3-6 overall and 1-1 in the GPAC.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 1 vs. Mount Marty (2-2-2, 0-1-2 GPAC), 5:30 p.m.
Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, Oct. 4 at Morningside (3-6, 1-2 GPAC), 5:30 p.m.
Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Elwood Olsen Stadium (Sioux City, Iowa)
The Bulldogs' attack came alive with 24 shots as Oliver Benson delivered the game winner. Oliver Balazs forced a keeper save and Benson finished the job with a header. Pacing the Bulldogs in chances were Ricards Busmeisters (seven), Jasper Hofland (five) and Joe McCarroll (four). Nine different athletes took a shot at the opposing goal. With the Chargers firing 16 times of their own, Nolan Fuelberth grabbed six saves in the shutout. Concordia also grabbed the edge in corner kicks (8-3).
With a four-goal performance in 2024, the Bulldogs shutout Mount Marty (4-0) with Benson scoring the game winner. Others scoring were Ryan Wokutch, D’Andre Williams and Youssef Heggy. After 90 minutes of play, Concordia and Morningside ended in a 1-1 draw. Hugo Garrote scored via Martin Herrera in the 27th minute and the Mustangs answered in the second half.
Averaging 1.33 goals given up per game, the Concordia defense ranks third in the category with the fourth most total saves (46). Inigo Chavarria has a save percentage at .789 (three games) and a goals allowed average (1.38). Fuelberth sits with 29 saves (sixth in GPAC) and has a .748 save percentage (third in GPAC). The offense has averaged 12.2 shots per contest and a .400 shot on goal percentage.
After a cluster from last season in the GPAC regular season, the conference seems to be starting the similar fashion with only one team remaining (Northwestern) with a chance for all the points in the standings. The Red Raiders are 2-0 and with most teams only through three games, all other 10 teams have at least gathered one tie or loss. It is already stacking up to be an all-out dawg fight for the GPAC regular season title and everyone will be vying for the final trophy. Dakota Wesleyan (2-0-1), Midland (2-0-1), NWC (2-0) are the three with two wins and Concordia will throw its hat in the ring with an impressive week against two of the conference opponents.
In 2022, Dordt got the better of the Bulldogs in a 4-3 win in Sioux Center. Since that time, Concordia has been unbeaten in regular season conference play, going 20-0-10, until the loss at Northwestern in 2025. The current juniors in the program had yet to see a regular season conference loss until the Red Raider loss. The two full seasons saw no defeats with a 7-0-4 record in 2023 and a 6-0-4 showing in 2024 for scheduled GPAC play.
In the first NAIA RPI ratings, the Bulldogs are set at 141st with a 0.448 RPI. Concordia has been rated at 121st in strength of schedule. Just behind the Dawgs, Mount Marty has earned a rating of 142nd and a schedule slated at 94th. Morningside (88th) has a strength of schedule at 33 in the country. Midland is rated 24th, as the highest in the conference and a 72nd schedule strength. Bellevue University (52), Hastings (83) and Northwestern (98) are all in the top 100 of teams the Bulldogs have played or will play in 2025.
Mount Marty
The Lancers come into the match with a 2-2-2 overall record and a 0-1-2 GPAC showing. Mount Marty has tied in its last two outings against Midland (2-2) and Dordt (1-1). The Lancers are led by two goal scorers, including Zachary Hebda (three) and Rex Chiles (two) with Lukas Amaya being the assist leader (three). With 11.5 shots fired per contest, MMU averages a .493 shot on goal percentage and a .130 shot percentage. With a 2-1 record on the road, the Lancers have scored nine total goals and seven assists. Juan Pablo Navia started all six games and grabbed 26 saves. His save percentage is .565 and zero shutouts in 540 minutes in goal.
Morningside
The Mustangs are 3-6 and 1-2 in the conference coming into the week. On a two game losing streak, Morningside fell to Briar Cliff (2-0) and Midland (2-1). Averaging 1.11 goals per game, the Mustangs shoot 11.3 times per game and allow 9.8. With a .490 shot on goal percentage, they are shooting a percentage of .098 and have 4 assists on their 10 goals. Tassilo Koerner has four scores and paces the Mustangs and Jordan Bickel has three right behind him. Gustavo Dos Santos continues to look for the dish as he has a team-leading three assists. Keeper Tim Teschner has nine starts and 15 goals allowed with 19 saves. His save percentage is a .559 and has a shutout. The sophomore has a record of 2-3-1 in his 675 minutes in the net. In nine games, the team allows 2.00 goals per contest.
Next Week
Concordia will travel to Hastings and welcome Waldorf in the following contest. The Bulldogs will be in Seward versus the Warriors and take the pitch at Lloyd Wilson Field.
Wednesday, Oct. 8
5:30 p.m. – at Hastings
Saturday, Oct. 11
5:30 p.m. – vs. Waldorf