SEWARD, Neb. – The schedule is set for the upcoming 2024 campaign for Concordia University Men’s Soccer. The Bulldogs release a 16-game slate and will be back on the field starting Aug. 28. Seasoned Head Coach Weides will enter his 17th year as the frontman of Concordia and will take on Graceland University to begin the season in Lamoni, Iowa. The rundown includes six nonconference competitions and 10 bouts in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).
With nine games away, the Bulldogs will put on their home whites seven times inside Bulldog Stadium in 2024. Out of the six nonconference matchups, two new opponents were subbed in from 2023 competition including a match against Columbia College (Aug. 31) of Missouri and Grand View University (Sept. 7) of Iowa. Concordia and Columbia will meet for the first time in school history.
One of the notable in-conference matchups to look out for is the GPAC opener versus the 2023 GPAC tournament champions, Northwestern (Sept. 18). The Bulldogs will also take on the 2023 regular season champions, Briar Cliff, on homecoming (Sept. 28) and Morningside on senior day (Oct. 12).
Concordia is coming off an unbeaten regular season (13-1-4) and 7-0-4 in conference play. Its single loss came from the hands of Dordt in the GPAC tournament quarterfinals in Seward, Neb. The offense brings back leading goal scorer and first team All-GPAC Carter Hinman, veteran Jarrod Henson (second team) and midfielder Ferdi Hagen (first team). The back line boasts Braden Spath (second team), captain Iker Casanova (second team, 2021) and consistent starter Adran Wambua. The two 2023 starters in the net will be solid between the pipes as Nolan Fuelberth (second team) and Gabriel Mendoza (honorable mention) return.
The Bulldogs will have to lose three prominent players Victor Meneses, Matt Schultz and Isaiah Shaddick, along with assistant coaches Tanner Knorr and Michael McIntyre.
Nonconference opponents (as of April 25)
· Bellevue University
· Benedictine College (Kan.)
· Columbia College (Mo.)
· Graceland University (Iowa)
· Grand View University (Iowa)
· York University