SEWARD, Neb. – Year 14 of Jason Weides’ head coaching tenure will officially get started this week as the Concordia University Men’s Soccer program opens the 2021 campaign. The Bulldogs are getting set to host York College on Wednesday and Tabor College (Kan.) on Saturday in nonconference action. Concordia is coming off a unique two-part 2020-21 season that saw it go 10-5-3 overall in a journey that concluded in the GPAC quarterfinals.
This Week
Wednesday, Aug. 25 vs. York (1-0), 7 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats (Concordia Sports Network)
Saturday, Aug. 28 vs. Tabor (0-1), 3:30 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats (Concordia Sports Network)
Note for fans: Tickets to home soccer games can be purchased online via Concordia’s HomeTown ticketing page – or on site at Bulldog Stadium on the day of games. Currently, there are no capacity limits within the stadium. Face coverings are not required. More details for fans can be found HERE.
The rivalry with York is back on after a break last season. Since Weides became head coach in 2008, Concordia owns a record of 11-1 against the Panthers, a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. The two sides last met in 2019 when the Bulldogs dealt York a 3-0 defeat in Seward. The Panthers (2-7-2 last season) opened the 2021 season on Aug. 21 with a 1-0 overtime win over Doane. Head Coach Tyler Wilt is in his second season leading the York program.
Tabor is a much less familiar opponent. The most recent Concordia-Tabor meeting occurred in 2018 when the Bulldogs defeated the Bluejays, 4-2, in the season opener. Also a member of the KCAC, Tabor went 2-13-1 last season. It began the 2021 campaign this weekend and dropped a 2-1 double overtime decision to Panhandle State University (Okla.). Grant Brubacher is in his 15th season as Tabor’s head coach.
As for the Bulldogs, they were picked fourth in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll. The roster features 17 players with collegiate starting experience, including returning All-GPAC performers in Iker Casanova (second team), Carlos Orquiz (second team), Federico Simonetti (second team) and Garrett Perry (honorable mention). Not only does Concordia bring back Simonetti in goal, it also returns 85.4 percent (35 of 41 goals scored) of the goal scoring production from last season. A model of consistency, the program has reached the 10-win mark in 10-straight seasons and owns an overall record of 110-61-22 during that stretch. As a tune up, Concordia had a scrimmage this past Saturday and has been in preseason training since its Aug. 9 report date.
Following this week’s action, the Bulldogs will look forward to road trips to Grand View University (Iowa) on Sept. 1 and to Kansas Wesleyan University on Sept. 4. The next home date will be Sept. 8 versus Benedictine College (Kan.).
For an in-depth breakdown of the 2021 Concordia Men’s Soccer team, read the season preview HERE.