SEWARD, Neb. – In terms of finding results, the Concordia University Men’s Soccer team feels snakebit. For a second Wednesday in a row inside Bulldog Stadium, the Bulldogs were forced to come to grips with a one-goal defeat at the hands of a nationally ranked opponent. A 58th-minute goal by Benedictine College (Kan.) sophomore Kody Argaez lifted the visiting 24th-ranked Ravens to a 1-0 victory. Concordia was shut out for the second time this season.
Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad stands at 1-2-3 overall with one game remaining on the nonconference slate. A week earlier, the Bulldogs hung with seventh-ranked Bellevue University before conceding a 2-1 loss.
“We had good possession,” Weides said. “Ultimately, we had a lot of it in the middle of the field. We have to find a way to penetrate more and find more chances, but it wasn’t for lack of having the ball. It was two good teams battling, and we fell a little bit short today … We have to get better at that final pass, that final ball, that final shot – I think that’s the hardest thing in the game. That’s what’s going to separate us to become a better team. We have to be better in the final third and create more chances.”
In the eyes of Weides, this performance was a step in the right direction as compared to this past weekend’s 1-1 draw at Grand View University (Iowa). Concordia continues to play solidly across two-thirds of the field. It’s that final third that isn’t quite synced up. The Bulldogs put four shots on frame on Wednesday, all of which were denied by Raven keeper Noah Reuscher.
There were only a combined 14 shots (seven apiece) in a defensive battle. Eventually, Benedictine broke through when it stole the ball at midfield and played two quick touches in behind the Concordia back line. Bulldog keeper Nolan Fuelberth saved a strike from Eliah Froeyland but couldn’t regroup in time to deflect the rebound from Argaez. That one goal stood up for the Ravens, who moved to 5-1 and averaged their 2023 home loss to Concordia.
On the Bulldog attack, Aidan Nachi put two shots on frame while making his second career start. Oliver Benson and Martin Herrera also fired a shot on goal apiece. Center back Michael Wyvill put away a goal apiece in the previous two games and had one shot on Wednesday.
Despite a run of tough results against top-notch competition, the Bulldogs remain positive about where they are headed. Said Weides, “We will learn and grow from this. We put together a nonconference that’s tough, and Benedictine is certainly one of those challenging teams. It’s disappointing not to walk away with a win tonight or in some of the other contests that we’ve tied. I think we’re going to be battle-tested. Even in a loss tonight, we performed far better than the tie in our last performance.”
For the third-straight Saturday, the Bulldogs will take their act on the road as they look ahead to a weekend clash with nearby York University (1-2-1). Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT from York Soccer Complex. The rival Panthers have played each of their first four games against GPAC competition with their lone win coming at home over Mount Marty, 1-0.