Seward, Neb. – The Bulldogs will host back to back home contests that include Hastings Wednesday night and Briar Cliff on Homecoming weekend (Sept. 28). Concordia University Nebraska Men’s Soccer outlasted Northwestern (1-0) and tied Dordt (1-1) in Sioux Center in its last two games. CUNE has built a 2-2-5 overall record and a 1-0-1 GPAC showing.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 25 vs. Hastings (3-6, 1-1 GPAC), 8 p.m.
Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, Sept. 28 vs. Briar Cliff (2-7-1, 1-1 GPAC), 8 p.m.
Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs hadn’t found a result since the season opener due to nonconference competition being raised from past seasons. Jarrod Henson and Martin Herrera connected for a score in the 68th minute. That would be all it would take for Concordia to take its first conference win. Both squads had 11 shots, mirroring each other in both halves but goalkeeper Nolan Fuelberth and the back line were able to clinch a shutout. Forward D’Andre Williams was able to fire off a team high five shots, as Youssef Heggy shot twice. The bench was big in the second half seemingly playing like the 12th man.
· The Defenders were awarded a penalty in the 23rd minute after an accidental hand ball inside the box. Jacob Narkis scored on the free kick and put the Bulldogs down early. About 12 minutes later, Michael Wyvill scored his third goal of the season via D’Andre Williams’ boot. Williams leads the team with three assists, which puts him in the top 5 in the conference early in the season. Concordia controlled possession a majority of the bout and shot 15 times compared to its opponents 10.
· After only one week, only two remain perfect in the conference. Morningside is 4-4 overall and 2-0 and Dakota Wesleyan is 1-0 in a league with an even playing field early on. The Tigers have the highest winning percentage (.625) and an overall record of 4-2-2. Concordia is the only other squad without a loss (1-0-1) in conference play. The following teams are ordered by winning percentage: Mount Marty (.571), Northwestern (.500), Dordt (.438), Midland (.389), Doane (.375), Hastings (.333), Briar Cliff (.250) and Waldorf (.083).
· Defender Michael Wyvill laid claim to his first career weekly honor as announced on Tuesday by the league office. Wyvill was awarded the GPAC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for his play during Sept. 16-22, 2024. The product, out of Lincoln Pius X, scored the game tying goal versus Dordt in this past Saturday’s match preserving a point for the Bulldogs. The back line only allowed one goal in the past two contests and took a shutout in the 1-0 victory over Northwestern. Claiming his spot as a starter this season, the centerback has been a part of three clean sheets through nine games. Wyvill has three goals on four shots.
· Keeper Nolan Fuelberth has the highest save percentage (.818) in the Great Plain Athletic Conference. Native of Lincoln, Neb., Fuelberth sits second in goals against (six) and goals against average (0.82) to Dakota Wesleyan’s Ryan Flannery. The product, out of Lincoln Southwest, ended his 2023 campaign in the top 5 in both categories last season (eight, 0.80). Flannery has played in three games due to splitting time compared to Fuelberth’s seven games. Gabriel Mendoza and Fuelberth combined for the program’s season low 13 goals allowed last season.
· The updated Massey Ratings have Concordia rated 65th with a strength of schedule rating of 55. The ratings have upcoming opponents Hastings (85th) and Briar Cliff (93rd). The Broncos (58th) and Chargers (43rd) have a similar strength of schedule rankings after a couple of games of GPAC play.
Hastings
The Broncos are 3-6 overall and split their GPAC opening week with a loss to Morningside (3-2) and besting 2023 GPAC regular season champion Briar Cliff (2-1). Hastings has faced two common opponents with two losses to No. 5 Bellevue University (2-1) and Graceland University (2-1) of Iowa. The visitors will come in with 14 goals scored, 91 total shots on a .154 shot percentage, averaging 10.1 tries per 90 minutes. With 11 assists, the Broncos share the final pass as nine different players have tallied in the category. Freshman midfielder Tim Berger is second in the league in goals scored (five) with 11 shots taken and six players have been able to find the back of the net. Senior Pablo Arce-Salinas has started seven games including both GPAC matches totaling 630 minutes played. The goalkeeper has allowed 16 goals and tallied 28 saves with a .636 save percentage.
Briar Cliff
The Chargers are 2-7-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play through 10 games completed. In Briar Cliff’s opening week, it defeated Doane (2-0) on the road and fell to Hastings (2-1) at home. Two common previous matchups with the Bulldogs were losses to No. 15 Columbia College (2-1) and Bellevue (2-1). BCU has scored 14 goals while allowing 21 and has a 118-114 shot edge over its opponents. Averaging 11.8 shots per game, the Chargers have collected a .119 shot percentage and .441 shots on goal percentage. With 12 assists, Andrew Buchanan owns four of them, good enough for second in the GPAC. Buchanan and Filip Peters lead the pack with three goals apiece, also having scored with nine different players. Peters booted 23 shots and has had 14 on target. Goalkeeper Philip Haenel started nine of the 10 games playing all 810 minutes in the matches. Haenel has allowed 17 goals and held onto 28 saves with a .622 save percentage.
Next Week
The Bulldogs will continue conference play against Dakota Wesleyan in a lone match next week. Concordia will travel to face the Tigers in Mitchell, S.D. on Saturday. The match is listed below.
Saturday, Oct. 5
5:30 p.m. – at Dakota Wesleyan