GAME NOTES: Lancers set to be final regular season opponent
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia men’s soccer team will complete its regular season at home on Saturday, Oct. 31. The Bulldogs will take on Mount Marty College for senior day at 8 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.
MATCH INFO
Mount Marty College (0-16, 0-8 GPAC) at Concordia University (7-6-1, 2-4-1 GPAC)
Saturday, Oct. 31 | 8 p.m. CDT
Site: Bulldog Stadium
Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
Last time out
The Concordia men’s soccer team marked up 32 shots, 15 on goal in a 1-1 tie at Doane on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Freshman Tyler Jensen scored the only goal for the Bulldogs, his fifth of the season. Twelve different Bulldogs took at least one shot in the 110 minute match.
Playing in his home state, senior Matt Meisinger picked an opportune time for his second career goal. Meisinger found the back of the net for the game winner in the 90th minute to lift the Concordia University men’s soccer team to a critical 3-2 win over host Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, S.D., on Saturday Oct 24.
Senior Night
Prior to the game on Saturday, Oct. 31, the 13 seniors on the men’s soccer team will be recognized. Through four years, the squad has amassed a record of 39-28-6 (18-16-5 GPAC). The seniors have been a part of three of the four teams in program history to post double digit wins in a season.
Lawrie nets GPAC defensive player of the week award
For the first time in his career, senior Justin Lawrie has garnered a weekly conference award. On Tuesday the league named Lawrie the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Defensive Player of the Week. Lawrie is the second Bulldog men’s soccer player to earn weekly honors, joining freshman Tyler Jensen, tabbed the league’s offensive player of the week on Sept. 22.
A native of Winnipeg, Canada, Lawrie has been one of head coach Jason Weides’ most consistent performers all season. The 6-foot-1 center back played a key role in the Bulldogs limiting last week’s opponents to a combined four shots on goal as they played to a 1-1 draw with Doane and then defeated Dakota Wesleyan, 3-2. Lawrie recorded and assist and scored the equalizing goal in the 83rd minute of the win at Dakota Wesleyan.
GPAC rankings
As a team, the Bulldogs are ranked second in shots per game (18.50), shots on goal per game (8.88), shutouts per game (0.38) and total shutouts (6), tied for fifth in goals allowed per game (1.38) and tied for seventh in goals per game (2.0) and total goals (32).
Julian Amaya – game winning goals per game, tied for eighth (0.13); total game winning goals, tied for eighth (2)
Mark Horsburgh – total saves, ninth (54); goals against average, fifth (1.14); saves per game, eighth (3.60)
National rankings
As a team, the Bulldogs rank 27th in shots per game (18.5), 29th in total shutouts (6.0) and 30th in shots on goal per game (8.88).
Quotable
“Overall, it was positive. We played well and looked really sharp. It was a hard earned draw on the road. Sometimes in our conference against tough teams, picking up a point on the road is important. We didn’t win but I thought we performed well and showed a good team mentality. We fought hard and showed a lot of passion.”
-Jason Weides on the tie with Doane College
Scouting the Mount Marty College Lancers
The Lancers of Mount Marty College are currently 0-17, 0-9 GPAC on the season. The Lancers rank second in saves per game (6.76) and in total saves (115) in the GPAC. Nationally, MMC is 13th in total saves and 25th in saves per game. Ludwin Arana leads the Lancers in shots with 26 and in points with three. Keeper Rogelio Rodriguez has made 84 saves, 4.94 per game. The Lancers are led by head coach Peter Shepherd who is in first season at Mount Marty College. Shepherd is assisted by Nancy Saunders, Dane Hansen and Rogelio Duran.
Up next on the pitch
The Concordia men’s soccer team is looking to secure a spot in the GPAC tournament. The tournament will begin on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Details on game times and locations will be announced when available. GPAC standings through Tuesday, Oct. 27 are listed below.
Team GPAC Overall
(21) Hastings 8-0-1 11-3-3
Midland 7-1-1 12-4-1
Northwestern 7-1-1 12-4-1
Morningside 5-3-1 10-5-1
Doane 4-3-2 7-6-3
Concordia 3-4-2 8-6-2
Nebraska Wesleyan 3-5-1 9-6-1
Briar Cliff 3-6 6-9
Dordt 2-6-2 5-9-2
Dakota Wesleyan 2-6-1 5-11-1
Mount Marty 0-9 0-17