HASTINGS, Neb. – The evening featured all the intensity and tension one could ask for in a matchup between Concordia University Men’s Soccer and arch nemesis Hastings. The two sides traded blows before settling with a 3-3 draw following 110 minutes (two overtimes) of action at Lloyd Wilson Field on Saturday night (Oct. 16). The Bulldogs held a 2-1 lead just into the second half and responded to deficits of 1-0 and 3-2.
Head Coach Jason Weides’ program had hoped to celebrate its first win over the perennially powerful Broncos since its 2015 GPAC tournament championship game upset. Concordia (6-6-2, 4-3-1 GPAC) picked up one point towards the GPAC standings with the tie.
The Bulldogs really wanted this one – and they had their chances. Concordia controlled portions of the match and finished with an advantage of 22-19 in shots (12-9 in shots on goal). Both teams had a bevy of set piece opportunities in a contest that included a combined 27 fouls, 11 cards issued and 18 corner kicks. Not unusual for Bulldog-Bronco get-togethers, the play on the field got physical and feisty.
Many of the goals were of the highlight reel variety. In the 80th minute, Concordia’s Martin Herrera drilled a sharply angled free kick into the back of the net to equalize, 3-3. That splendid goal (tucked inside the far post) helped set aside frustration from near misses just moments earlier from the likes of Yessine Bessaïes and Jarrod Henson. The Bulldogs were able to equalize after going down a man in the 74th minute.
Neither team ever had a lead of more than one goal. The scoring summary looked like this:
· 9’ – Keegan Goracke-Johns, Hastings
· 17’ – Yessine Bessaïes, Concordia
· 41’ – Ryan Wokutch, Concordia
· 57’ – Tyler Mase, Hastings
· 75’ – Sandro Rubio, Hastings
· 80’ – Martin Herrera, Concordia
Bessaïes and Herrera were also credited with one assist apiece. Since the calendar flipped to October, the Bulldogs have been much more dangerous on the attack. They have tallied 13 goals in four October games (2-1-1 in that stretch).
Just two years removed from an appearance in the NAIA national championship game, Hastings (7-3-2, 6-2-1 GPAC) has shown more vulnerability this fall though it remains a formidable foe. The lone two GPAC losses for the Broncos have come at the hands of Jamestown and Briar Cliff. Hastings had won each of the previous nine series meetings with Concordia.
Another challenging road game is coming up on Wednesday when the Bulldogs will be at Briar Cliff (9-5, 7-1 GPAC). Kickoff from Sioux City, Iowa, is slated for 4 p.m. CT. Last season’s meeting in Seward resulted in a 1-1 draw. Concordia will attempt to defeat the Chargers for the first time since the 2018 season.