SEWARD, Neb. – Knotted at two scores apiece, Ricards Busmeisters smashed in a game-winning penalty kick in the 84th minute and closed the 2025 book on seventh-seeded Briar Cliff (3-2) on Friday (Nov. 7). For the second consecutive season, the Bulldogs will host the GPAC tournament final on Tuesday. The story of the Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Soccer team continues as the side has five straight.
Head Coach Jason Weides and company are now 11-8 overall and 7-1 in the last eight contests as the front man will look for his third conference tournament title (2015, 2022).
“It’s where you want to be at the start of the season,” Coach Weides commented. “You want to put yourself in the GPAC championship. Especially, in our league, to have the only one automatic birth through the GPAC championship. I’m really proud of this team, especially when you think about the start for us. We went against a tough schedule and didn’t stand up the way we needed to but we learned a lot of lessons along the way.”
Lessons learned have turned into winning important games late as the Busmeisters called game late after Jasper Hofland drew a foul in the box. A sophomore out of Riga, Latvia, Busmeisters got the offense going early, earning a tally in the first half as well via Oliver Benson. The Iowa Western transfer extends his lead as the top-finisher with his eighth and ninth goals of 2025.
“It feels amazing,” Busmeisters said. “I knew I had to step up this game. I am glad the coaches trusted me. I’m just happy to move forward and host a final here at home. I already know where I am going to go before. You just, be in the moment, take a deep breath and do what you know you can do.”
In the 59th minute, Benson found an open lane to send a through ball to the feet of Cleme Suarez. The freshman from Santiago, Chile, created space from the defender and sent his first collegiate score into the far bottom corner. With Benson’s two assists, he has mounted five total, which leads the Bulldogs in dishes.
Inigo Chavarria grabbed three saves and earned his eighth win in goal. The two teams were similar in shots (14-13) and shots on frame (5-4) with the visitors edging out the home squad. Suarez (four), Busmeisters (four) and Hugo Garrote (three) led the team in chances taken. Mike Wyvill headed out many dangerous tries keeping Briar Cliff at bay in multiple moments.
Every time Concordia tried to slip away, the underdog Chargers would answer and the first ball was a screamer from about 37 yards out by Finlay Skilling. After the Suarez goal, David Sauter found a score only two minutes later to tie the contest back at two. Briar Cliff ends its season at 8-8-3.
The Bulldogs will host the GPAC championship on Tuesday (Nov. 11) inside Bulldog Stadium. The challenger is yet to be determined but will be between No. 4 seed Morningside and No. 8 seed Mount Marty.