MITCHELL, S.D. – After an even match in the first half, the No. 23 Concordia offense struck shot after shot, only to amass one goal versus Dakota Wesleyan in a tight (1-0) shutout victory. CUNE traveled to Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 30) and completed the gritty road win finishing with 20 total shots from 11 different Bulldogs. The back line paralyzed the Tiger offense in the second 45 minutes, allowing zero shots.
Head coach Jason Weides was asked about how they nullified the Dakota Wesleyan offense in the second half. “We pressed better (on defense). We made better choices on the attack and possessing the ball. We kept getting higher on the offensive end and the wind helped us out a little bit as well.”
Concordia still sits atop the GPAC with a 4-0-1 record and a 10-0-1 overall record in 11 games. Coach Weides commented on the matchup versus the Tigers.
“It was a tale of two halves and the wind was a major factor for both teams during the game. I don’t think we dealt with it (wind) well. In the second half, we had the wind at our backs and that helped eliminate some of their easier first half counterattacks. We came out flying in the second half, and I think we learned a big lesson to not try and rush to the second goal.”
The Bulldogs amassed 10 shots in the opening 19 minutes of the second half and 15 in the 45 minute total. In those first 10 shots, Carter Hinman broke through on an unassisted goal in the 62nd minute.
Concordia earned a corner kick, as a swinging ball hit the inside of the far post. The ball rolled under the Dakota Wesleyan keeper right to Himan. Carter was blocked on the first shot, then scored the game-winning goal on the second kick. Hinman now has nine goals, which is still good enough to be the GPAC leader in goals scored and points (19).
The Bulldogs kept pouring on shots and the defensive line including Matt Schultz, Iker Casanova, Braden Spath, Michael Lindberg, and Spencer Kaufman all helped post their sixth shutout of the season. In goal was Gabriel Mendoza, who garnered his third shutout on two saves and is now 5-0-1 as a goalkeeper.
The first half consisted of the Tigers leading the Bulldogs in shots (6-5) and corner kicks (4-1). The CUNE offense was stifled by the Tiger defense and five offsides calls. In a span of 21 minutes, six yellow cards were enforced by the referees, with Matt Schultz (20th minute) and Okan Erkocu (27th minute) catching the two cards for Concordia.
The Dawgs (10-0-1, 5-0-1) will return to Seward for their midweek match against Morningside (5-3-3, 4-1 GPAC) at Bulldog Stadium. The game is set to start at 5:30 p.m. CT. on Wednesday (Oct. 4). Concordia and the Mustangs stayed knotted (2-2) after the 90 minutes came to a close in their previous match from 2022.