SEWARD, Neb. – The unbeaten conference ride continues as Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Soccer team enters the halfway point of the GPAC slate. In their only outing last week, the Bulldogs routed Briar Cliff, 4-0, in Sioux City, Iowa. Head Coach Bernie Ochoa’s squad will shift back to a two-game week as it prepares to travel to Mount Marty before then hosting Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday. Concordia has tallied 12 points in the GPAC standings (4-0) and stands at 6-4 overall.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Mount Marty (4-5-1, 1-3 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Crane-Youngworth Field (Yankton, S.D.)
Saturday, Oct. 10 vs. Dakota Wesleyan (4-3-1, 3-1 GPAC), 3:30 p.m.
--Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
• The NAIA began releasing weekly RPI ratings on Sept. 21. In the latest RPI unveiled on Monday (Oct. 5), the Bulldogs landed at No. 32 while sporting a strength of schedule ranked 26th in the country. Additionally, in the first ARC ratings, which are regional rankings produced by the national selection committee, Concordia appeared at No. 16 in the Midwest. Atop the region sits MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.), the top-rated team in the Heart America Athletic Conference. Other regional leaders are Cumberland (Tenn.) in the East, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) in the North, John Brown (Ark.) in the South and Southern Oregon in the West.
• Make it back-to-back shutouts for the Bulldogs, who blanked Briar Cliff, 4-0, this past Saturday. The goals were scored, in order, by Joe McCarroll (7’), Niko Nareike (9’), McCarroll (85’) again and William Preston (87’). Preston and Hugo Garrote were credited with an assist apiece. Concordia held slight advantages in shots (15-14) and shots on goal (7-5) while being edged in corner kicks (6-5). In goal, Florian Quast made five saves in 88 minutes, before being relieved by Jason Payne. In the back, Sean Stratman has been key figure in the team’s stingy defensive efforts. The Bulldogs are 5-0-3 over the past eight matchups with Briar Cliff.
• The win streak versus conference opponents has reached 10. That streak includes three wins to close the 2025 regular season and three more during the ’25 team’s GPAC tournament title run. Over the past 10 games against GPAC foes, Concordia has outscored the opposition by a combined total of 24-7. Under previous Head Coach Jason Weides, the Bulldogs posted unbeaten league regular season marks of 7-0-4 in 2023 and 6-0-4 in 2024. Since the start of the 2022 season, Concordia owns a GPAC regular season record of 32-4-6. The 2026 Bulldogs hope to become the first team in program history to win the GPAC regular season championship. Concordia is 4-0 in league play for the first time since 2020 and will attempt to get to 5-0 for the first time in the GPAC era (2000-present).
• A sophomore from Prestwick, Scotland, Joe McCarroll has emerged as the team’s leading goal scorer. McCarroll found the back of the net twice at Briar Cliff to push his team-high season goal count to four. McCarroll has stepped into the spotlight after playing in 18 games last season with three assists (no goals). Three Bulldogs have scored two goals this season: Hugo Garrote, Sebastian Montino and William Preston. Seven others have notched one goal as part of a balanced offensive attack.
• Overall this season, Concordia has outscored its opponents by a count of 18-15. The defensive play has tightened considerably since the start of conference play. Only Doane managed to find the back of the net, among the Bulldogs’ first four GPAC opponents. Concordia shut out Dordt, 2-0, Morningside, 3-0, and Briar Cliff, 4-0. A transfer from Milligan University (Tenn.), Florian Quast has won the starting role at keeper (eight starts this season). He’s earned three shutouts this season and was named the GPAC Defensive Player of the Week honoree on Sept. 22. Sean Stratman was tabbed GPAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 29.
The opponents
Mount Marty was pegged 10th in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll after finishing the 2025 season at 4-7-4 overall (1-5-4 GPAC). The Lancers have started this season at 1-3 in league play with the win coming at Waldorf, 6-1. Since then, Mount Marty has dropped three in a row: 4-1 to Northwestern, 4-3 to Midland and 4-0 to Dordt. Now in his second season, Head Coach Sheldon Spelman leans upon a roster featuring top goal scorer James Starkey (seven goals) and returning Honorable Mention All-GPAC keeper Esteban Gomez. Through 10 games, Mount Marty has scored 22 goals and has conceded 23. In last year’s meeting, Concordia defeated the Lancers, 3-0, in Seward.
Dakota Wesleyan landed at No. 6 in the GPAC preseason poll after concluding the 2025 season at 8-11 overall (6-4 GPAC). The Tigers started strong in conference play, opening league action with a 2-0 home win over defending GPAC regular season champion Northwestern. DWU also owns conference wins over Dordt, 4-1, and over Hastings, 2-0. A First Team All-GPAC selection as a freshman last season, Evan Bolster leads the team with five goals this season. The roster also features 2025 Second Team All-GPAC midfielder Luis Waeschle. Head Coach Nicolas Reinhard is in his fifth season leading the Tigers. Through eight games, DWU has surrendered only nine goals while having scored 13 goals. The Tigers have not played in Seward since 2022 when the result was a 6-1 Concordia win.
Next week
Only four regular season games will remain on the slate once this week’s action is in the books. Next week, the Bulldogs will host Hastings on Oct. 14 before traveling to Waldorf on Oct. 17.