SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia is unbeaten (5-0) so far this season, but their record will be tested this week, traveling to an undefeated Benedictine College (Kan.), which is 4-0-1 in their five bouts. The match on Wednesday (Sept. 12) is set to be the toughest test to date for the Bulldogs and is their final match before entering conference play. Concordia starts conference with GPAC foe Mount Marty on Saturday (Sept. 16) in a home contest set for midday, which will test their undefeated streak (14-0-1) through the past 15 games.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 13 vs. Benedictine (4-0-1), 7:30 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Legacy Field
Saturday, Sept. 16 vs. Mount Marty (1-2-2), 1 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bulldog Stadium
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs will look to expand their reign in Bulldog Stadium, having a 14-0-1 record since the latter end of the 2021 season. Their last loss at home was in an Oct. 6 match versus Morningside in an offensive cliffhanger. Each team shot over 20 times and it finished with the Mustangs on top of a 3-2 win. Former GPAC affiliate Member, Presentation was routed (6-0) in the first victory of the home win streak. While 2021 may feel far away, three of the starters from the matchup against the Saints are still playing under Weides. Eight 2023 familiar faces played in that game. Fast forward to this season and fourteen more games later, the Bulldogs continue to make it special to play on their home pitch. The next three home matches include Mount Marty (Sept. 16), Dordt (Sept. 20) and Midland (Sept. 27).
· In their first win match that showed a little colder weather, the Bulldogs outlasted the Bruins in a 2-1 win at Papillion Landing. On the road for the first time, Carter Hinman scored two goals in two different ways. Early, Hinman won a battle in the box, punching a feed from Ferdi Hagen through a couple of defenders and past the goalie in only the fourth minute. The Bruins responded only two minutes later to knot the game at one. Fast forward to the second half, a pressing Carter forced the Bruin defender to push the ball back to his keeper and Hinman intercepted the pass for a tap-in score. Concordia outshot (12-7) the physical Bellevue team and it is their best win to date.
· With Concordia coming into the match undefeated (4-0) and a McPherson squad traveling into Bulldog Stadium without a win (0-4), the teams seemed to be mismatched from the start. The Bulldogs of Concordia scored early and often in a 7-0 blowout, where the CUNE did what they were supposed to do on paper. Win. They outshot their opponents 41-2 and possessed the ball more times than not. Many got their first goals starting with Ferdi Hagen and Okan Erkocu, attaining his second collegiate goal in the same match. Ryan Wokutch and Kai Olbrich followed, getting their season’s first and Isaiah Shaddick seemed to be involved in everything early, with a goal and two assists. It garnered the teams' second shutout in the last three games played.
· Gabriel Mendoza, coming out of Fuengirola, Spain, was honored as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Defensive Player of the Week, as announced by the league on Tuesday (Sept. 12). He is the first Bulldog to receive this award so far this season but shouldn’t be the last as they are 5-0 through five matches. Since the conceding lone goal to Bellevue, Mendoza became a stone wall for his last 174 minutes of play helping Concordia defeat Bellevue (2-1). In a route against McPherson, He had one save setting the back line well to help limit the amount of attempts for the opposition. Mendoza totaled four saves through two games earning the GPAC Defensive Player of the Week and has only allowed two goals this campaign.
Benedictine
Under .500 the past couple of years, the Ravens will match their season win total (5) from 2022, with a victory over the Bulldogs. A Heart of America Conference member leaves their record to be misleading to how good this program really is. Benedictine has four wins over the University of Saint Mary (Kan.), Friends University (Kan.), Avila University (Mo.) and Lyon College (Ark.). The defense hasn’t allowed over one goal a match with an average of .80 goals per game, while their offense averages 2.2 goals per game. They average almost 14 shots per 90 minutes with a shot on goal percentage of .435. This team finds goals through passing as 11 of their 10 goals were assisted. Over half of their scoring comes from senior midfielder Adem Aroua, who has six goals with .500 of his shots on goal. Diego Acuna is on the passing end of those goals as the assist leader (six), averaging more than one per game. The rest of their production comes as a team attack with many having goals to round out their offense. They have switched between two goalkeepers with Noah Reuscher and Carlos Flores to anchor the back end.
Mount Marty
The Lancers are 1-2-2 this season with their only win coming against Bethany College (Kan.) in Yankton, S.D. Mount Marty faced common opponent Graceland University (Iowa), who was Concordia’s season-opening win, as the Lancers fell 3-0, to the Yellow Jackets. Their offense averages under one goal per game (.75) and has shot 38 times through five games. In their last match, they tied with Bethel College (Kan.) in a 1-1 stalemate. Their season leader is Zach Hebda garnering three points with a goal and an assist. The average almost 10 shots a game with .579 on goal. The Lancers need to have a quality outing to compete with the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Next Week
The Bulldogs will host their second consecutive GPAC matchup stepping on the pitch against Dordt (Sept. 20) then return to the road for a game against Northwestern on Saturday (Sept. 23). The matches are listed below and will be hosted at Bulldog Stadium and NWC Soccer Complex.
Wednesday, Sept. 20
5:30 p.m. – vs. Dordt
Saturday, Sept. 16
1:00 p.m. – vs. Northwestern