SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University men’s soccer squad will greet a pair of familiar in-state foes as the nonconference season continues this week. Fresh off a 4-2 season opening win over Tabor College (Kan.), the Bulldogs now face their first road test. They will play at York College on Tuesday afternoon before returning home to host Bellevue University on Saturday.
For live coverage of Tuesday’s contest, click HERE at game time. The Concordia Sports Network will carry Saturday’s match live from Bulldog Stadium.
This week
Tuesday, Aug. 28 at York, 3:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, Sept. 1 vs. Bellevue, 3:30 p.m. CT
Concordia came away from the season opener knowing it has plenty of room for improvement. The Bulldogs raced out to a 3-0 lead over Tabor in the opening 11 minutes and coasted to victory. Each of the first three goals were scored by newcomers. Roger de la Villa, Jack Arra and Konrad Sinu all quickly got on the board with their first goals as Bulldogs (two of the three goals were assisted by Garrett Perry). Later on, junior David Carrasco notched his first career collegiate goal. Concordia lost its hold on a shutout when the Bluejays found the back of the net in the 50th minute.
Eleventh-year head coach Jason Weides enters the week with a chance at reaching 100 career victories. His overall coaching record stands at 98-78-18. He’s coming off his best season yet having led the 2017 squad to a 16-3-1 mark. The 16 wins shattered the previous program single-season record of 12. Weides has guided the program to seven-straight seasons of at least 10 victories. The most memorable of all those wins was a 1-0 upset of Hastings in the 2015 GPAC tournament championship game. That triumph advanced the Bulldogs to the national tournament.
York, guided by third-year head coach Alex Latorre, is in the midst of five-straight games against GPAC opponents to open its season. The Panthers are 1-1 having topped Doane, 3-1, and lost to Briar Cliff, 5-0. York finished 5-12-1 last season. Included in those 12 defeats was a 2-0 loss at Concordia on Aug. 29. The Panthers return their 2017 leading goal scorer Johan Rodriguez, who racked up nine goals last fall.
Bellevue has started strong under third-year head coach Mark Heath-Preston. The Bruins already have a signature win under their belt after going on the road and knocking off No. 7 Columbia College (Mo.), 3-2, on Aug. 22. Bellevue has also beaten Doane and Trinity International (Ill.). The Bruins will attempt to avenge their 3-0 loss at Concordia last season. Jack Bennett made five saves as part of the shutout.
Next week the Bulldogs will have a mid-week bye before returning to action at Kansas Wesleyan University on Sept. 8. Following this Saturday’s home tussle with Bellevue, Concordia will not appear at Bulldog Stadium again until Sept. 12.