SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska will open the season at home versus in-state Bellevue University on Wednesday (Sept. 2). The Bulldogs went 0-2 in the opening road trip to Oklahoma versus No. 20 University of Science and Arts (Okla.) and Mid-America Christian University (Okla.). The 2026 team will reach for its first win this week with only one game on the docket.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 2 vs. Bellevue, 5:30 p.m.
--Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· New Head Coach Jason Weides has a weird ring to it. After spearheading the men’s program for 18 years, the Kearney, Neb., native made a switch to the women’s side after former Head Coach Nick Smith left a vacancy following the 2025 season. Weides led the men’s program to three GPAC tournament championships, three NAIA national tournament appearances. He also led the program to the second round of the NAIA national tournament for the first time in history in ’25. With a wealth of experience, the former Concordia men’s player has started a new challenge and in some ways started a new career.
· The expectations for Concordia haven’t slowed down as the squad under new leadership has been picked to finish third in the GPAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The program finished as runner up in the conference for three consecutive seasons but will look to return to the top of the standings for the first time since 2017 (lone regular season title). Concordia garnered 100 points in the poll, placing it behind Hastings and Morningside. The top five were rounded out by Dordt and Doane.
· In the early season trip to Oklahoma, Concordia dropped both contests by scores of 4-0 to the Drovers and then 4-3 at MACU. The Bulldogs have played deep into their bench with 15 field players and two goalkeepers. The three goals were scored by Sadie Mares, Guadalupe Sanchez and freshman Molli Kalsbeck. Mares broke open the scoring with a 40-yard blast and Kalsbeck muscled her way to her first career score as the Bulldogs had a 3-0 halftime lead. In the end, Concordia ran out of gas and the Evangels but roared back in the second half.
· A 2026 roster featuring four All-GPAC returners includes Kyana Rios (first team), Triniti Rowe (first team), Sanchez (second team) and Mares (honorable mention). Rios has moved to a new position, and Rowe made her return from a late season injury (2025) in the game versus MACU. From the 2026 bench, Concordia graduated four of its eight all-conference players and eight total key losses.
· Of the 17 players who were awarded minutes, 13 were new to the position or the quality minutes of play. Kalsbeck and Addie Snyder started both games as freshmen out of Kearney High School. Abigail Allen, Madi Babisak, Camryn Higer, Joey Long, and Alicia Lopez all played important roles for the program for the first time in Oklahoma. Rios (nine), Sanchez (seven) and Chali Preister (five) return as the top goal scorers from a season ago. Coach Weides continues to move around players to find the best fit for the side moving forward.
The opponents
The Bruins are three games into their nonconference schedule. They have competed against three GPAC opponents, going 2-1, thus far. Bellevue trounced Doane (7-1) and College of Saint Mary (8-0), then tied Dakota Wesleyan (1-1) at home. The Bruins went 12-3-2 in ’25 with one of the deadlocked matches coming from Concordia (1-1) at Renner Dennis Outdoor Athletic Complex. Morgan Miller, Katrina Avila, Abril Cura, Prescillia Casu, Adi Kasel and Baylee Tex are all-conference returners from 2025. The purple and gold side has come short of the NAIA national tournament three consecutive seasons falling all three times to Georgia Gwinnett College in the conference tournament championship. Tom White is in his eighth season as head coach.
Next week
Following the Wednesday matchup, the Bulldogs will have the weekend off before traveling to Kansas Wesleyan University and hosting Dakota State University (S.D.) after some recovery and practice days. Concordia University, Nebraska will compete in Salina, Kan., on Sept. 9 and at Bulldog Stadium on Sept. 12 for senior day.