SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Max effort was the separation in the Bulldog surge over Briar Cliff (4-0) on Saturday (Oct. 3). Defense lessened the quality shots of the Chargers and hustle defined three of the four scores by Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Soccer. Joe McCarroll tallied a brace having four goals (season) to lead the Seward side.
This 2026 squad (6-4) has chugs along on a five-game winning train and remains unbeaten in the conference (4-0).
“Just really proud of the guys for their efforts, everyone,” Head Coach Bernie Ochoa said. “It was a big road win for us moving forward in GPAC. The boys did a really great job and executed on the defensive side. That’s what won the game today and created those early opportunities on Joe's goal. Then, obviously, on the corner, it was just overall every guy stepping in and giving 100%. In the game of soccer, we have to understand that we all attack and we all defend as one. There aren’t just a back line and a goalkeeper. It's important that we all understand that defensively, we have to do better and do well to create opportunities offensively. We were able to not only do that but also keep possession and break lines when we needed to.”
The Bulldogs wanted it more. Relentless in the press were the visitors and none like McCarroll in the opening ticks for the eventual game winning score. The Scotsman picked the pocket of two consecutive Chargers then crushed the unassisted go-ahead goal in the 7th minute.
Bolstered into the lineup as a forward, Niko Nareike crowded the final line seconds before a corner. Hugo Garrote whipped the bender into the box as Nareike took a couple steps back and headed in his first career score as a Bulldog in the 9th minute.
The continual press of all 11 from the forwards to the back line made for tough shots for BCU and Concordia took a two-goal lead into the break.
Goalkeeper Florian Quast was able to grab all five saves needed of the 14 shots take by Briar Cliff in the combined clean sheet with Jason Payne. With the Bulldogs ahead they were able to rely on substitutions playing 22 different athletes.
Off the bench, entered William Preston. The Concordia Omaha alum didn’t waste time drawing three defenders to the far side, leaving the sprinting McCarroll wide open for his second goal of the contest. Preston didn’t quit in the final minutes but continued to press and intercepted a rogue pass from a keeper off his line. A Gretna, Neb., native, Preston buried his third goal of his freshman season.
The visitors edged their opponents in virtually every category including shots (15-14), shots on goal (7-5), saves (5-3) and fouls (7-18).
Bulldogs who fired a shot were Joao Pedro Moreira (three), Elijah Fulton (two), McCarroll (two), Preston (two), Nareike (two), Mattis Hollnagel, Michael Wyvill and Garrote.
Concordia (6-4, 4-0 GPAC) will travel to Yankton, S.D., for a matchup with Mount Marty (4-5-1, 1-3 GPAC) on Wednesday (Oct. 7). The Bulldogs will take the field at 7:30 p.m. CT against the Lancers.