SEWARD, Neb. – After suffering their first GPAC loss of 2020, the Concordia University Men’s Soccer team continues its conference slate this week. The Bulldogs will be hosting Briar Cliff Wednesday (Oct. 21) before traveling to Aberdeen, S.D., to face Presentation College on Saturday (Oct. 24).
Wednesday, Oct. 21 vs. Briar Cliff University (7-0, 5-0) 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24 at Presentation College (0-4, 0-4) 3:30 p.m.
Head coach Jason Weides’ squad dropped a tough 3-1 decision to GPAC leader Hastings their last time out. During Saturday’s contest, the Broncos outshot Concordia 12-9 in shots and 5-3 on shots on goal. Concordia was the victim of an own goal in the 37th minute of play that gave Hastings a 1-0 lead in the early going. The Broncos then added goals in both the 47th and 53rd minutes to increase their lead to 3-0. Junior Carlos Orquiz put the Bulldogs on the board with a goal in the 71st minute with an assist from Garrett Perry. However, it was too little too late. Corner kicks served as the difference-maker in the final box score as Hastings held a 10-3 advantage over Concordia, giving the Broncos plenty of offensive opportunities on the Bulldogs goal.
The setback dropped the Bulldogs back in the GPAC standings to third place as they now trail first-place Hastings and second-place Briar Cliff. The loss was the seventh-consecutive to Hastings as the Bulldogs have not defeated the Broncos since beating them in the 2015 GPAC Conference Championship.
The Bulldogs will be facing another formidable opponent on Wednesday when undefeated Briar Cliff comes to town. Concordia was blanked 2-0 by the Chargers in their lone matchup in 2019.
Briar Cliff (7-0) is coming off a dominant 9-1 win over Presentation. The Chargers are 6-0 in GPAC play with wins over Dakota Wesleyan (3-2), Dordt (1-0), Northwestern (5-2), Mount Marty (2-0) and Doane (2-1). Briar Cliff has one of the more dominant offenses in the GPAC, averaging 3.57 goals per game and 11.29 shots on goal per game. The Charger defense is also stout as Briar Cliff is ranked third in the GPAC, allowing just 1.14 goals per game. Senior Marcus Horwood leads the offensive attack for the Chargers with five goals on the season. Briar Cliff was slated at third in the 2020 GPAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
The Concordia-Presentation series has been all Bulldogs in the two previous matches. The Bulldogs have outscored the Saints by a dominant 16-0 margin.
Presentation (0-4) has struggled mightily in its matches this season. The Saints have lost their four decisions by a combined score of 25-3. Presentation has allowed 48 shots on goal while recording just 18 shots on goal this season. Both rank last in the GPAC. Presentation was picked last in the 2020 GPAC Preseason Poll, garnering 11 votes.
The Bulldogs resume play next week as they host Doane on Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the final home match of the 2020 season. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.