2019 Men's Soccer Schedule/Results
10-6-2 overall | 5-4-2 GPAC (6th) | Season Stats | Roster
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time/Result | Record |
| Aug. 24 | Oklahoma City University | Oklahoma City, Okla. | W, 2-0 | 1-0 |
| Aug. 27 | York College | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-0 | 2-0 |
| Sept. 7 | MidAmerica Nazarene University | Seward, Neb. | W, 2-1 | 3-0 |
| Sept. 11 | McPherson College | McPherson, Kan. | W, 3-2 (OT) | 4-0 |
| Sept. 14 | *Presentation College | Aberdeen, S.D. | W, 9-0 | 5-0, 1-0 |
| Sept. 17 | Bellevue University | Tranquility Park | Omaha | W, 3-1 | 6-0 |
| Sept. 21 | *Northwestern College | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-1 | 7-0, 2-0 |
| Sept. 25 | Kansas Wesleyan University | Seward, Neb. | L, 1-2 (OT) | 7-1 |
| Sept. 28 | *Dordt College | Sioux Center, Iowa | W, 5-0 | 8-1, 3-0 |
| Oct. 5 | *Mount Marty College | Seward, Neb. | W, 2-0 | 9-1, 4-0 |
| Oct. 9 | *Midland University | Seward, Neb. | T, 1-1 (2 OT) | 9-1-1, 4-0-1 |
| Oct. 12 | *(5) Hastings College | Hastings, Neb. | L, 0-3 | 9-2-1, 4-1-1 |
| Oct. 16 | *Morningside College | Seward, Neb. | L, 0-3 | 9-3-1, 4-2-1 |
| Oct. 19 | *Briar Cliff University | Sioux City, Iowa | L, 0-2 | 9-4-1, 4-3-1 |
| Oct. 26 | *University of Jamestown | Seward, Neb. | T, 1-1 (2 OT) | 9-4-2, 4-3-2 |
| Oct. 30 | *Doane University | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-0 | 10-4-2, 5-3-2 |
| Nov. 2 | *Dakota Wesleyan University | Mitchell, S.D. | L, 0-1 | 10-5-2, 5-4-2 |
| GPAC Tournament | ||||
| Nov. 6 | (17) Hastings College (Quarterfinals) | Hastings, Neb. | L, 0-3 | 10-6-2 |
2019 Roster
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| 1 | Callum Goldsmith | GK | 6-1 | So. | Sevenoaks, England | Oxted County |
| 2 | Griffin Wilkins | D | 5-11 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southwest |
| 3 | João Pedro Veríssimo | D | 5-10 | Jr. | Nova Mutum, Brazil | Anisio Vecente de Freitas |
| 4 | Leonardo Palomo | D | 6-2 | Jr. | Kearney, Neb. | Western Neb CC / Kearney |
| 5 | Jesus Zamudio | D | 5-9 | Fr. | Yuma, Ariz. | Yuma Catholic |
| 6 | Carlos Orquiz | MF | 5-9 | So. | Chihuaha, Mexico | Universidad CNCI Puebla |
| 7 | Roger de la Villa | MF | 5-8 | Sr. | Barcelona, Spain | Escola Sant Gregori / Marshalltown CC |
| 8 | Trenton Williams | D | 5-9 | Jr. | Douglas, Wyo. | Douglas |
| 9 | Isaiah Shaddick | F | 5-9 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southwest |
| 10 | Carlos Ferrer | F | 5-8 | Sr. | Tijuana, Mexico | Mater Dei Catholic |
| 11 | Matthew Ho | F | 5-8 | Sr. | New Territories, Hong Kong | Diocesan |
| 12 | Garrett Perry | MF | 5-10 | Jr. | Corona, Calif. | Woodcrest Christian |
| 13 | Mauro Figueroa | MF | 5-8 | Fr. | El Cajon, Calif. | Steele Canyon |
| 14 | Cavan Burns | MF | 5-10 | Fr. | Coalburn, Scotland | Holy Cross |
| 15 | Evan Hayden | MF | 6-1 | Sr. | Kearney, Neb. | Kearney |
| 16 | Gabe Marcatto | MF | 6-0 | Jr. | Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil | Beatrice |
| 18 | Ethan Doyle | D | 5-9 | Jr. | Shawnee, Kan. | Mill Valley |
| 19 | Kevin Sanchez | D | 5-11 | Jr. | Las Vegas, Nev. | Desert Pines |
| 20 | Decker Mattimoe | D | 5-11 | So. | Cheyenne, Wyo. | Cheyenne Central |
| 21 | Josue Fernandez | F | 5-11 | Jr. | Holdrege, Neb. | Western Neb CC / Holdrege |
| 22 | Ryan LeTourneau | F | 6-0 | Jr. | North Platte, Neb. | North Platte |
| 23 | Renzo Bozzo | MF | 6-1 | Fr. | Santiago, Chile | Colegio San Benito |
| 24 | JD Dominguez | D | 5-8 | Sr. | Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. | Palos Verdes |
| 25 | David Carrasco | F | 6-0 | Sr. | Bogota, Colombia | Skyline |
| 26 | Miguel Munoz | D | 5-11 | Sr. | Cordoba, Spain | Marshalltown CC |
| 27 | Caleb Goldsmith | MF | 5-5 | So. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southeast |
| 28 | Moises Jacobo | MF | 5-6 | Fr. | Grand Island, Neb. | Grand Island Senior HS |
| 29 | Daniel Campbell | F | 5-11 | So. | Bellevue, Neb. | Bellevue West |
| 30 | Matt Schultz | MF | 6-1 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southwest |
| 31 | Eduardo Alba | GK | 6-2 | Fr. | Katy, Texas | James E. Taylor |
| 32 | Benjamin Boll | GK | 5-10 | Fr. | Ham Lake, Minnesota | Concordia Academy St. Paul |
| 34 | Jacob Roggow | MF | 5-11 | Sr. | Moro, Ill. | Metro East Lutheran |
STAFF
Jason Weides, Head Coach (12th Year)
Jan Chvojan, Graduate Assistant Coach
Adam Lewis, Goalkeeper Coach
Concordia picked in tie for third in GPAC men's soccer preseason poll
August 7, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University men’s soccer program has grown accustomed to being in the mix amongst the top four spots of the GPAC standings. Under head coach Jason Weides, who enters his 12th season in 2019, the Bulldogs followed up their 2015 GPAC tournament title with three-straight seasons of top four league finishes. On Wednesday (Aug. 7), the conference unveiled its preseason men’s soccer poll that showed Concordia in a tie for third with 91 points.
The Bulldogs have lost some key pieces from the backline and their goalkeeper from last season, but they return 2018 second team All-GPAC honorees in Carlos Ferrer and Roger de la Villa. During last fall’s action, Weides moved past 100 career coaching victories while leading Concordia to the semifinals of the GPAC tournament. The Bulldogs went 10-5-4 overall and placed fourth in the GPAC standings.
The entire league continues to aim to unseat powerhouse Hastings, which is again the favorite to win the GPAC title. No players on the current Concordia roster experienced the thrill of upsetting Hastings in the 2015 GPAC championship clash. For seniors like Ferrer, the 2019 campaign represents the last chance to climb to the top of the mountain.
Says Ferrer, “It’s all around the team – winning a championship, making more history and breaking more records. One thing we’ve talked about is winning the regular season. We want to win the regular season.”
The new season is set to get started with a trip south for a matchup with Oklahoma City University on Saturday, Aug. 24. The first home contest of the season is slated for Aug. 27 versus York College.
2019 GPAC Preseason Men’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll
*First-place votes in parentheses
1. Hastings – 120 (10)
2. Morningside – 105 (1)
T3. Briar Cliff – 91
T3. Concordia – 91
5. Midland – 89 (1)
6. Northwestern – 71
7. Jamestown – 70
8. Doane – 45
9. Dordt – 43
10. Dakota Wesleyan – 29
11. Mount Marty – 27
12. Presentation – 11
Season preview: 2019 Concordia men's soccer
August 19, 2019
Head coach: Jason Weides (107-83-22, 11 years)
2018 Record: 10-5-4 overall; 6-2-3 GPAC (4th)
Key Returners: F David Carrasco; MF Roger de la Villa; MF Carlos Ferrer; MF Caleb Goldsmith; D Evan Hayden; F Matthew Ho; MF Carlos Orquiz; MF Garrett Perry; D Kevin Sanchez; D Joao Pedro Verissimo.
Key Newcomers: Eduardo Alba; Renzo Bozzo; Isaiah Shaddick.
Key Losses: D Angel Alvarez; GK Jack Bennett; D Derek Eitzmann; MF Aries Fung; F Konrad Sinu.
2018 GPAC All-Conference: Angel Alvarez (second team); Jack Bennett (second team); Carlos Ferrer (second team); Roger de la Villa (second team); Matthew Ho (honorable mention).
Outlook
Now entering year 12 of his head coaching tenure, Jason Weides feels the same level of preseason anticipation as any campaign of the past. One would be hard pressed to find many collegiate men’s soccer programs more consistently solid than the one that resides at Concordia University. The Bulldogs have hosted GPAC quarterfinal round contests three years in a row and boast an active streak of eight-straight seasons with at least 10 victories.
Last season Weides became just the second coach in program history to record 100 career victories. Such accomplishments have set a standard of competitiveness within the GPAC. No matter the departures from the previous season, Concordia expects to be in the hunt among the league’s top three or four finishers.
“I think we’re pretty similar to what we’ve been the past few years,” Weides said. “We expect to be contenders this year. It will certainly be a challenging road because there are a lot of good teams in our conference. I don’t think anyone is going to hand us anything. The difference now between maybe four or five years ago is that people expect us to be a good team and expect us to compete. We’re not going to catch anybody by surprise.”
A string of three-consecutive runs to the conference postseason final came to a halt in 2018 at the hands of arch nemesis Hastings. The Bulldogs went 10-5-4 overall during a fall marked by nailbiters, including a memorable GPAC tournament quarterfinal PK shootout triumph over Midland. One of the heroes of that match, goalkeeper Jack Bennett, has graduated and created a vacancy in goal. Thus, the keeper and back line positions raise the biggest question marks.
A two-time second team All-GPAC choice, senior Carlos Ferrer represents the most heralded returner. The native of Tijuana, Mexico, delivers in many ways that are not measured in basic soccer statistics. However, Ferrer has contributed 15 goals and 16 assists over 59 career games played. He is confident he and his teammates can adequately replace Bennett and other mainstays in the back such as Angel Alvarez and Derek Eitzmann.
“We saw our defense play so well (in the spring),” Ferrer said. “Of all the positions I think the back line and the keeper are the ones we’ve had the most change. Evan (Hayden) has done a great job stepping up. His leadership right now is top notch. With Callum (Goldsmith) you can see his confidence getting better. When he played last season you could see as a freshman it takes a little time to get that confidence. You can see that change.”
Weides has consistently found all-conference keepers to replace the ones that came before. In recent years that group has included Brendan Buchanan, Mark Horsburgh and then Bennett. Perhaps Goldsmith is next in line. Goldsmith saw action in 10 games last season, taking over when Bennett was sidelined by injury. The number of goals surrendered to opponents jumped from 16 in 2017 to 30 in 2018.
Whichever player emerges at keeper will certainly have help. In addition to Ferrer and Hayden, six other returners started at least 10 games last season: senior midfielder Roger de la Villa, senior forward Matthew Ho, sophomore midfielder Carlos Orquiz, junior defender Joao Pedro Verissimo, junior midfielder Garrett Perry and junior defender Kevin Sanchez. De la Villa joined Ferrer on the GPAC’s second team by notching a team high eight goals last fall.
There are many others who gained experience last season, including senior David Carrasco, often referred to as a “super sub” by Weides. Added Weides, “Our returners put in some good work this summer. It was evident from day one (of preseason) that they showed up fit and in shape. There’s always a little bit of rust when you first come into training but they were able to dust that off really quickly. The newcomers have looked sharp and are adapting quickly. That’s the difference from the spring obviously with the newcomers coming into the fold. We’re really seeing which of the newcomers are ready to make that impact right away and which are going to take the time to develop and which returners are really going to take a big step forward.”
In recent years, the distribution of goal scoring has been reasonably dispersed without the Bulldogs having one particular go-to player up top. Early indications seem to point towards that same dynamic playing out in 2019. Weides believes his team will have the luxury of employing a host of players capable of creating chances. It’s worth keeping an eye on freshman Isaiah Shaddick, named the Lincoln Journal Star Prep Player of the Year for his work at Lincoln Southwest High School.
Shaddick exploded his senior year of high school and led Nebraska Class A in goals scored. Said Weides, “He’s a dynamic player. I think he’s really good 1v1. He’s one of those guys that has the potential to score goals, create chances and set other guys up. Out of our incoming class he probably has the most name recognition. I think the good news for us is we’re not putting all our hopes and dreams on Isaiah Shaddick. I think he’ll have a great season and be a great player for us, but we have a lot of other freshmen that will do a great job as well.”
Some other potential impact newcomers to consider are the likes of Eduardo Alba and Renzo Bozzo. The hope is for them to help tighten up some of the errors that at times cost Concordia in 2018. Weides wants his squad to be better at the start and end of games than it was a year ago. Too often the Bulldogs found themselves digging out of early holes.
This preseason to date, Weides has seen plenty of competition for spots in the lineup. Weides sees a lot of potential throughout the roster.
“There’s a lot to be ironed out,” Weides said. “I think the good news is that this team is going to provide us with a lot of tough decisions as coaches. We’ve had some good teams in the past. I do think this might be one of the deepest from player one to player 30 in terms of the quality. I think the training each day has set a good standard – maybe higher early on than it has been before.”
Weides has cycled through a completely new roster since the program experienced the high of upsetting Hastings in the 2015 GPAC tournament championship game. The current players would love to feel that same euphoria.
Said Ferrer, “It’s all around the team – winning a championship, making more history and breaking more records. One thing we’ve talked about is winning the regular season. We want to win the regular season. I think we can do it.”
The 2019 team will make its first impression this Saturday (Aug. 24) with a trip to Oklahoma City University for a 2 p.m. CT start. Outside of conference play, the Bulldogs will take on two top 25 squads and another receiving votes, based on the preseason national poll.
Bulldogs set to head to OKC for season opener
August 22, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – For the first time since 2012, the Concordia University men’s soccer program will open up a season on the road. The Bulldogs will head out on Friday in preparation for Saturday’s matinee at Oklahoma City University. It will mark the season opener for both teams. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT from Stars Field in Oklahoma City.
Game Info
Concordia at Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Okla. | Stars Field | 2 p.m. CT
Stream: Stretch Internet
Head coach Jason Weides is entering his 12th season leading the program. Last season he became the second head coach in program history to eclipse 100 career victories. The expectations are for the program to always be in the hunt in the top three or four of the league standings. Concordia has hosted a GPAC tournament quarterfinal game three years running and has notched at least 10 wins in eight-straight seasons. This year’s group would like to return to the consistent form shown by the 2017 squad that broke a school record with 16 wins in a season.
From a personnel perspective, senior Carlos Ferrer is the most acclaimed returner having been named to the GPAC’s second team in each of the past two seasons. Roger de la Villa (eight goals in 2018) is the leading returning goal scorer from a balanced goal scoring ’18 team. One newcomer to watch for is Lincoln Southwest High School graduate Isaiah Shaddick, who led all Nebraska Class A players in goals this past season. Weides will also break in a new primary goalkeeper with Callum Goldsmith being the most experienced in that role.
Oklahoma City has had a perennially strong program under Brian Harvey, who leads both the men’s and women’s soccer teams. Harvey has racked up more than 400 wins as the men’s coach since starting the program in 1986. The Stars are coming off an 11-5 campaign in 2018. The Bulldogs will attempt to contain Aboubakr Diallo, who notched a team high 21 goals last season. Oklahoma City outscored its opponents, 54-25, in ’18.
Concordia will play just once next week – Tuesday, Aug. 27 when it hosts rival York College inside Bulldog Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT.
Bozzo, Jacobo score goals, Concordia nets clean sheet
August 24, 2019
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – If the opener is any indication, the Concordia University men’s soccer program will continue to be a tough squad to contend with in 2019. In the season opener on Saturday (Aug. 24) afternoon, the Bulldogs earned a quality road victory by taking a 2-0 decision at Oklahoma City University. A pair of freshmen got on the board with their first career goals and Concordia showcased a new keeper.
This is the beginning of year 12 for Jason Weides as head coach. His latest victory spoiled a day in which Oklahoma City named its field after longtime coach Brian Harvey.
“Overall it was a really good performance,” Weides said. “Oklahoma City is a good team and they’ve had a long history of success. We knew we had a tough opening test. The thing that’s most pleasing beyond the win is that it was a big step forward from our scrimmage game we had a week ago. I thought collectively we were so much better in so many areas of the game. The other takeaway is we played a fair amount of subs and every single one of them made an impact.”
Preseason training gave Weides an indication that this squad would have the potential for many offensive contributors. The leading returning goal scorers are seniors Carlos Ferrer and Roger de la Villa, but on this day it was the rookies who emerged. Freshman Renzo Bozzo of Santiago, Chile, was credited with the game winner that broke a scoreless draw in the 53rd minute. Fellow freshman Moises Jacobo of Grand Island, Neb., supplied some breathing room with a goal in the 76th minute. Junior Joao Pedro Verissimo assisted on both goals.
Weides appreciated the havoc his team created, generating 19 shots, including nine on goal. There will be plenty more opportunities for others to fill the goal scoring role moving forward.
“I was impressed with our box play,” Weides said. “We did well on set plays. Ultimately we got two goals and had a shutout and we created a lot of chances. Even in the first half when it was 0-0 we created enough chances to score. I think that was a real positive takeaway. It was just a good team performance.”
From a defensive standpoint, Concordia was able to limit the Stars (0-1) to four shots on goal (12 shots total). Freshman goalkeeper Eduardo Alba denied each one of those shots on frame in picking up the shutout. Alba won the keeper position, which has regularly been filled with all-conference performers in recent years.
Alba, Bozzo and Jacob were the three newcomers to get the call in the starting lineup. Sophomore Decker Mattimoe also made the first start of his career. Ferrer is the most experienced player on the roster. Saturday marked the 60th game Ferrer has played in as a Bulldog.
Harvey has led the Oklahoma City men’s team to 10 Sooner Athletic Conference titles and more than 400 victories during his tenure that began in 1986. Harvey also serves as the head women’s soccer coach. The Stars men’s team is coming off an 11-5 record during a 2018 campaign in which it ranked 11th nationally in goals scored per game. They were shut down on this particular day.
“It was a good defensive performance and it wasn’t just the keeper and back four,” Weides said. “I thought we pressed pretty well. That was an area of significant improvement from a week ago.”
The Bulldogs will return to Seward to host their home opener on Tuesday (Aug. 27) when rival York College (1-0) pays a visit. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT from Bulldog Stadium.
York to visit Bulldog Stadium for men's soccer home opener
August 26, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – Fresh off a 2-0 road victory over Oklahoma City University, the Concordia University men’s soccer team hopes to bottle up a similar performance on Tuesday night when it hosts its 2019 home opener. Rival and neighbor to the west York College will serve as the opponent with kickoff set for 7 p.m. CT from Bulldog Stadium. Concordia went 6-2-1 last season on the home turf.
Tuesday’s contest will be carried live (video/statistics) on the Concordia Sports Network. For details on web streaming for Bulldog athletic events, click HERE.
After a decade of one-sidedness in the Concordia-York series, the Panthers surprised the Bulldogs a year ago by upending them, 2-1, in a matchup in York. That resulted snapped a 10-game Concordia winning streak in the series and marked the first time that now 12th-year head coach Jason Weides had suffered defeat at the hands of the Panthers. Prior to last season, the Bulldogs had outscored York by a combined total of 47-10 over the previous 10 meetings. The rivalry dates all the way back to the 1970s.
Both sides will enter the game with 1-0 records on the young season. Concordia got into the win column immediately with the aforementioned victory at Oklahoma City, which had just renamed its field in honor of longtime head coach Brian Harvey. After a scoreless first half, two freshmen, Renzo Bozzo and Moises Jacobo, making their Bulldog debuts supplied a goal apiece. Joao Pedro Verissimo was credited with a pair of assists. The Bulldogs outshot the Stars, 19-12.
Weides also broke in a new keeper with Katy, Texas, native Eduardo Alba getting the nod. The freshman made four saves while earning the shutout, which were difficult to come by for the 2018 Concordia squad (one shutout all season). Alba, Bozzo and Jacobo were joined by Josue Fernandez and Mauro Figueroa as newcomers to appear in Concordia colors for the first time. Meanwhile, sophomore Decker Mattimoe made his first career start. On the flip side, senior Carlos Ferrer (60 career games) is the most experienced player on the roster.
York has already defeated one Nebraska GPAC school. The Panthers shut out Doane, 3-0, in their season opener last week. Otavio Avila was responsible for two of the York goals. The Panthers had a considerable edge in the shot count, 21-9. Head coach Alex Latorre’s squad is coming off a 2018 campaign during which it went 10-8 overall (6-6 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference).
After playing York, the Bulldogs will wait until Saturday, Sept. 7 to resume the season. On that date, Concordia will host MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Alba, Bulldogs earn shutout win in feisty rivalry battle
August 27, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – This was a feisty one between two longtime rivals separated by 30 short miles across highway 34. A year after seeing a long series win streak put to an end, the Concordia University men’s soccer team earned a measure of revenge by sending York College out of town, tagged with a 3-0 defeat. Roger de la Villa, Isaiah Shaddick and Miguel Munoz notched a goal apiece in Tuesday (Aug. 27) night’s Bulldog victory.
Twelfth-year head coach Jason Weides’ squad has begun the season with a pair of shutout wins. It also defeated Oklahoma City University by a 2-0 final in last week’s season opener.
“Our goal wasn’t to avenge a loss, it was to win this game,” Weides said. “We’re about the here and now and we tried to focus on that. It certainly was chippy early on, but ultimately it was a good learning lesson for our guys. We got caught up in that early on and got a couple silly yellow cards. At halftime we had an opportunity to address that and I think we’ll learn from it and get better from it. I think you saw us respond better in the second half.”
The shutouts are a welcome sight after Concordia posted just one the entire 2018 season. To this point, freshman goalkeeper Eduardo Alba and a back line with a new look has held up their end of the bargain. Alba made a couple of nifty saves, including one roughly midway through the second half that forced him to make a diving denial to his right. Alba made eight saves on the night.
The native of Katy, Texas, won the starting keeper role in a job that was up for grabs in the preseason. He seems to possess the type of passion that becomes infectious within a team atmosphere. He and the back line, which features Evan Hayden and Decker Mattimoe at center back, want to become a strength.
“I think it was determination – it’s a ball-hawk (mentality),” Alba said of his highlight reel saves. “I know a save is more than just about me. It’s for the team. It goes further than that. After that save we got a goal and it changed the game around.”
Another solid defensive effort meant that the two first-half goals would have been sufficient. They were delivered by one veteran goal scorer in de la Villa and another in Shaddick who is just getting started. De la Villa was last season’s leading goal scorer while Shaddick hopes to carry over his prolific striking from his exploits at Lincoln Southwest High School, where he earned a treasure trove of awards.
Then in the 79th minute – in one of the most beautifully executed plays of the night – Hayden found Munoz just outside the six-yard box in the center of the frame. Munoz proceeded to head the ball into the back of the net for an exclamation mark. Through two games, it’s been five unique goal scorer’s for Weides’ club.
“I think we’ll have more guys getting on the scoresheet,” Weides said. “It’s really nice, that way teams can’t just focus on one guy and really try and shut down one guy. We are really going to try and do it as a team.”
The Panthers had hoped to emerge with another road victory over a Nebraska GPAC foe. Five days earlier, York had cruised to a 3-0 win at Doane behind a pair of goals from Otavio Avila. Jorge Alencar took five of the team’s 12 shots on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs will wait until Saturday, Sept. 7 to resume the 2019 season. On that date Concordia will welcome MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) to Bulldog Stadium for a 1 p.m. CT kickoff. The Pioneers of Olathe, Kan., received votes in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll.
Alba chosen as GPAC Defensive Player of the Week
September 3, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – To this point, head coach Jason Weides could not ask for much more of a freshman goalkeeper. Two games into his college career, goalkeeper Eduardo Alba has recorded a pair of shutouts. On Tuesday (Sept. 3), the conference also named him the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.
This marks the first weekly awards handed out in 2019 by the GPAC. A native of Katy, Texas, Alba impressed enough to win the goalkeeper job out of preseason camp. His first collegiate award comes courtesy of his performance last week in the 3-0 victory over York College. In that outing, Alba made eight saves to preserve the shutout. In 180 minutes of scoreless action to begin the season, Alba has recorded 12 saves. He is a graduate of James E. Taylor High School and is majoring in physics (pre-engineering).
Alba and the Bulldogs (2-0) will return to action this Saturday when it will host MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) at 1 p.m. CT. The Pioneers (2-2) received votes in the NAIA preseason poll.
Bulldogs to end layoff by hosting Pioneers
September 5, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University men’s soccer team will have had 10 days without a game by the time kickoff rolls around at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday (Sept. 7). At that time, the Bulldogs will go head-to-head with a perennially strong fellow NAIA program in MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.).
Saturday’s game will be streamed live via the Concordia Sports Network. Live statistics will also be available through the same link. Frank Greene will call the play-by-play.
Head coach Jason Weides’ squad last played Aug. 27 when it toppled York College, 3-0. That victory came three days after Concordia opened the season with a 2-0 win at Oklahoma City University. The goalkeeper behind those shutouts has been freshman Eduardo Alba, who made eight saves versus York and was named the GPAC Defensive Player of the Week. Alba and a rebuilt back line, featuring Decker Mattimoe and Evan Hayden as center backs, have been a strength in the early going.
The Bulldogs have also found offensive firepower from a variety of sources. Five different players are responsible for putting away the team’s first five goals of 2019. In order, those goal scorers have been Renzo Bozzo, Moises Jacobo, Roger de la Villa, Isaiah Shaddick and Miguel Munoz. De la Villa topped the 2018 squad with eight goals while Shaddick, a freshman and product of Lincoln Southwest High School, has the ability to add many more goals to his total of the next four years.
Weides is warning his team not to let this week’s glaring result fool it. MidAmerica Nazarene (2-2) dropped an 8-0 decision at the hands of Oklahoma Wesleyan University on Monday. However, the Pioneers took GPAC power Hastings to double overtime before falling 1-0 in their season opener on Aug. 24. In addition, MidAmerica Nazarene has played in the NAIA national championship game as recently as 2015. On the current team, Felipe Hideki leads the Pioneers with four goals on the season. MidAmerica Nazarene had outscored its opponents by a combined tally of 9-1 prior to the clash with Oklahoma Wesleyan.
Nonconference play will continue next Wednesday (Sept. 11) with a trip to McPherson College, located in McPherson, Kan. Three days later, Concordia will open up the GPAC schedule by playing at Presentation College in Aberdeen, S.D.
Bulldogs come back to defeat MNU, improve to 3-0
September 7, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – For the first time this season, the Concordia University men’s soccer team found itself playing from behind. The Bulldogs never flinched while up against a MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) program with plenty of street cred. Two second half goals propelled Concordia to a 2-1 victory over the Pioneers inside Bulldog Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 7) afternoon.
Twelfth-year head coach Jason Weides’ squad had waited 10 days without a game before resuming the 2019 season. The Bulldogs are now 3-0 with two of the victories having come at home.
“It was a really good response,” Weides said of the adversity Concordia faced early on. “We talked about it at halftime. Certainly when you lose a player (to injury) five minutes into a game or less, it’s kind of a weird situation. We kind of had to scramble to adapt, but we had guys step up and respond to that well. You could see that they were resilient and there was belief the whole time.”
The game winner came in the 78th minute as a result of a mad scramble in the box. A line shot off the foot of Renzo Bozzo drilled the cross bar with the ball then bounding to Carlos Orquiz. His header was deflected and fell at the feet of Moises Jacobo, who deposited the ball into the back of the net for his second goal of the season. It capped a stretch of less than 10 minutes that involved two Concordia goal celebrations.
In the 69th minute, the Bulldogs got loose for a breakaway in the box. Daniel Campbell played a touch to David Carrasco, who blasted the ball into the back of the net. Carrasco became the sixth different Concordia player to score a goal this season.
Not only did the Bulldogs have to bounce back from an early deficit, they also had to adjust on the fly when senior center back Evan Hayden was forced to leave the contest early in the opening half. Bozzo helped fill the need. The freshman from Santiago, Chile, saved a ball just before it crossed the goal about midway through the first half.
“When Evan got hurt we knew we had to put more effort in,” Jacobo said. “At halftime we talked about it. We just have to go out there and fight – and that’s what we did.”
Concordia did enough to take advantage of a MidAmerica Nazarene (2-3) squad that was coming off a surprisingly one-sided 8-0 loss to Oklahoma Wesleyan. However, the Pioneers have played in an NAIA national championship game as recently as 2015. MNU also played a tight game with Hastings in its season opener. That result was a 1-0 loss in double overtime for the Pioneers.
In the process of moving to 3-0, the Bulldogs outshot MNU, 17-11. To this point, Concordia is about where Weides was hoping it would be.
“I think it’s about where we want to be,” Weides said. “We wanted to play three games and have three wins. Today was against a really good program that shows we can compete with anybody. I also know they have some guys out right now. We need to stand up to good teams like that and get results.”
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Wednesday with a road trip to McPherson College (Kan.) (2-1) for a 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff. The two programs met in Seward last year with the result being a 3-2 Concordia win in overtime.
Pair of road trips make up this week's slate
September 10, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – Fresh off wrapping up a 2-1 home win over MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.), the Concordia University men’s soccer team is preparing for two road trips this week. The Bulldogs will be at McPherson College (Kan.) on Wednesday in a rematch of a 2018 clash in Seward prior to heading to Aberdeen, S.D., for their GPAC opener on Saturday. Head coach Jason Weides’ squad enters the week at 3-0.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 11 at McPherson (2-1), 7:30 p.m.
-Live Webcast/Stats: Stretch Internet
Saturday, Sept. 14 at Presentation (1-2, 0-1), 3:30 p.m.
-Live Coverage: http://www.pcsaints.com/schedule/0/6.php
The schedule has been a bit disjointed to this point. This will be the first time this season that Concordia has had more than one game in a week. However, the results have been about as good as Weides could have hoped for. The Bulldogs own wins over Oklahoma City University, 2-0, York College, 3-0, and MidAmerica Nazarene. The 2019 squad is the fourth during Weides’ 12-year head coaching tenure to begin a campaign at 3-0. The others were the 2012, 2015 and 2017 teams. The 2015 edition won the GPAC tournament title while the 2017 group owns the program record for wins in a season with 16.
Last week this team showed it could handle some adversity. For the first time this season, Concordia faced a deficit when it went down 1-0 versus MidAmerica Nazarene. It also lost senior center back Evan Hayden to an injury not long after the opening kickoff. The Bulldogs adjusted on the fly and later erased the deficit with a goal apiece from David Carrasco and Moises Jacobo. Their exploits helped Concordia claim a win over a Pioneer program that reached the NAIA national championship game in 2015.
Carrasco became the sixth different Bulldog to find the back of the net this season while Jacobo became the first to net multiple goals on the season. The results through three games continue a recent trend of balanced goal scoring within the program. There are plenty of candidates on this year’s squad to emerge as a leading goal scorer, including freshman Isaiah Shaddick, who has moved into the starting role. Of course goalkeeper Eduardo Alba and company hope to continue to limit opposing goals as well they have so far.
Concordia will play McPherson for the fourth time during Weides’ tenure. The result last season was a 3-2 Bulldog victory in overtime. Also nicknamed the Bulldogs, McPherson is coming off a 5-2 victory over Doane on Sept. 7. Sean Thomson put two away in the back of the net in that victory. McPherson went 8-8-3 last season.
Presentation experienced a rough go in 2018, its first season as a soccer only GPAC member. The Saints went 0-18 overall (0-11 GPAC). Presentation put an end to its losing streak with a 9-2 victory over Nebraska Christian College on Sept. 7. However, it opened up conference play on Sept. 4 with a 6-1 loss at Mount Marty.
Concordia will also play twice next week. It will be at No.14 Bellevue University (Bryan High School in Omaha) on Sept. 17 before coming back home to host Northwestern on Sept. 21.
De la Villa produces golden goal in OT win at McPherson
September 12, 2019
McPHERSON, Kan. – The Concordia University men’s soccer team and McPherson College (Kan.) experienced déjà vu on Wednesday (Sept. 11) in McPherson, Kan. The two sides played to the exact same result as they did in 2018 in Seward. Concordia again celebrated a 3-2 overtime win over McPherson with Roger de la Villa accounting for the golden goal.
Twelfth-year head coach Jason Weides and his squad never could get too comfortable in this road clash with the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference foe. Concordia never had more than a one-goal lead, but it accomplished what it set out to do and ran its record to 4-0.
“You never want to find yourself in overtime but once you get there, it’s a bit of a gut check,” Weides said. “It kind of just comes down to desire and intensity. We were pleased to see that. Our guys showed that right away in overtime. We twice lost a lead so it was good to see us be resilient. It’s a game where we had to grind it out. It wasn’t always perfect, but we did just enough.”
Both squads took their chances well. McPherson converted on both of its shots on goal while Concordia scored on three of its four shots on goal. The visitors had three unique goal scorers with freshman Isaiah Shaddick (26’), senior Carlos Ferrer (82’) and senior Roger de la Villa (93’) each getting into the act. Ferrer assisted Shaddick’s goal and then Shaddick returned the favor by finding Ferrer late in regulation.
Justus Koehler buried both McPherson goals in ensuring Concordia would have to sweat this one out. Assisted by Moises Jacobo, de la Villa knocked in the fourth game winning goal of his Bulldog career to ignite a celebration.
“It was a game of not a lot of chances for either team,” Weides said. “Neither team had a lot of real quality chances. The two chances they had they put away. There are games sometimes where you have to be efficient. It was kind of a battle in the midfield.”
Weides went on to laud a back line that played without senior center back Evan Hayden. Weides also complimented the performances of the players off the bench. Concordia has had the confidence to go five or more deep off the bench early this season.
Concordia is now 4-0 for the first time under Weides. The 2017 Bulldogs were 3-0-1 after four games and then 10-0-1 after 11 contests on their way to a school record 16 victories. Concordia will need to knock off Bellevue University (Sept. 17) and Kansas Wesleyan University (Sept. 25) in order to sweep through its nonconference slate.
The Bulldogs have a lengthier road trip coming up this weekend with a visit to Aberdeen, S.D., where they will take on Presentation (1-3, 0-2 GPAC). The Saints are still winless in GPAC action since becoming a soccer only member prior to the 2018 season. In last season’s meeting, Concordia downed Presentation, 7-0, in Seward.
LeTourneau records hat trick in pummeling of Presentation
September 14, 2019
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Head coach Jason Weides was happy to see that his Concordia University men’s soccer team neglected to pay too much attention to the records or recent results. The Bulldogs ventured up to Aberdeen, S.D., this weekend knowing they would be taking on a squad they defeated 7-0 a season ago. Once again Concordia did not go lightly on Presentation College with Saturday (Sept. 14)’s matchup resulting in a 9-0 blowout victory for the road team.
The unbeaten streak lives on for 12th-year head coach Jason Weides’ squad, which is now 5-0. No other team led by Weides began a season with five-straight wins.
“You learn that your team can approach each and every game with importance,” Weides said. “When you have the opportunity to put away a team early, you want to do that. We performed well early and were able to get a comfortable lead. We made some wholesale changes after 15 minutes. We showed the quality of our bench. I was excited to see some guys who hadn’t had as many opportunities.”
It was an especially enjoyable afternoon for junior Ryan LeTourneau, who emerged with the first hat trick of his career. The North Platte native rattled off team goals Nos. 6, 7 and 8 on the day to make it even more of a monumental blowout. LeTourneau had entered the day with two career goals (one apiece as a freshman and sophomore).
This really was a mismatch from the start. Before 14 minutes had elapsed, the Bulldogs had built a 5-0 advantage with the goals coming from Isaiah Shaddick (5’), Moises Jacobo (9’), Carlos Ferrer (11’), Renzo Bozzo (13’) and Jacobo (14’) again. Following the surge by LeTourneau, Cavan Burns found the back of the net for his first career goal to cap the day’s outburst.
The shot count – 36-2 – was just as overwhelming as the final score. Concordia also had an advantage of 9-1 in corner kicks. In total, 23 Bulldogs saw playing time. Callum Goldsmith was called upon for 72 minutes at keeper in relief of Eduardo Alba. Goldsmith saved the only shot the Saints (1-4, 0-3 GPAC) put on frame.
Ranked No. 3 in the most recent GPAC poll, Concordia hopes this was the start of a run at a conference regular-season title. Through five games, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by a combined total of 19-3 and have registered three shutouts.
“We’re right where we want to be,” Weides said. “We know there’s still a long season left and there’s a new challenge each time we step out on the field. We have to make sure we’re not going to rely on our last performance. It’s just a start.”
The Bulldogs will step back outside of conference play on Tuesday with a trip to in-state Bellevue University (3-5). The Bruins were ranked 14th nationally in the preseason. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT from Bryan High School in Omaha, Neb. Last season’s meeting in Seward resulted in a 2-1 Bruin victory.
Bellevue, Northwestern await Bulldogs
September 16, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – The unblemished record sported by the Concordia University men’s soccer team will be put to the test this week with challenges from two perennially strong programs. The Bulldogs will take on in-state nonconference foe Bellevue University at 7:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday with the site moved to Tranquility Park in Omaha. Concordia will also host Northwestern on Saturday when GPAC play resumes.
This Week
Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Bellevue (4-5), 7:30 p.m.
-Live Coverage: Webcast | Stats
Saturday, Sept. 21 vs. Northwestern (3-4, 0-0), 3:30 p.m.
-Live Coverage: Webcast/Stats
The Bulldogs are 5-0 for the first time during 12th-year head coach Jason Weides’ tenure. The Bulldogs used a golden goal from Roger de la Villa to eke out a 3-2 overtime win at McPherson College on Sept. 11. Three days later, six different Concordia players found the back of the net in a 9-0 stomping of Presentation. Ryan LeTourneau took advantage of his playing time and recorded the program’s first hat trick since 2017. For the week, Moises Jacobo knocked in two goals and notched three assists.
Through five outings, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by a combined total of 19-3. Jacobo is the team leader with four goals on the season. Five others have multiple goals on the year: LeTourneau (three), Isaiah Shaddick (three), Renzo Bozzo (two), de la Villa (two) and Carlos Ferrer (two). Thirteen Concordia players have at least one assist. Defensively, the Bulldogs now have three shutouts, two more than they recorded during the entire 2018 season.
Concordia will attempt to avenge last season’s 2-1 home loss to Bellevue. The Bulldogs last defeated the Bruins in 2017 by a 3-0 final score. Bellevue has now won three in a row after starting out 1-5 (all five defeats by a one-goal margin). The last two Bruins victories came over Briar Cliff (1-0, OT) and Northwestern (3-0). There have been just a combined 23 goals in Bellevue’s nine games this season. Andy Janssen has scored four goals to lead the Bruins.
Northwestern will begin GPAC play on Saturday. Coming off a 10-7-2 overall mark in 2018, the Red Raiders were picked to finish sixth in the GPAC. Northwestern owns wins over Viterbo University, William Woods University and Waldorf University. Jake Foscalina has put away three of the team’s 11 goals. Last season the Bulldogs and Red Raiders played to a 1-1 double overtime draw.
Coming up next week, Concordia will host Kansas Wesleyan University on Sept. 25 before heading to Dordt on Sept. 28. It will be conference play the rest of the way after the matchup with Kansas Wesleyan.
Ferrer, Dawgs end Bellevue's roll, move to 6-0
September 17, 2019
OMAHA, Neb. – Two teams with win streaks of at least three games entered the field of play on Tuesday (Sept. 17) night as the Concordia University men’s soccer team and Bellevue University renewed their annual rivalry. The Bruins may have been the aggressor in the opening minutes, but the Bulldogs countered with three first-half goals on the way to a 3-1 victory in a contest played at Tranquility Park in Omaha, Neb.
The result avenged a 2-1 home defeat suffered against Bellevue last season. All 12th-year head coach Jason Weides’ team knows how to do right now is find ways to win. Concordia is now 6-0.
“They were actually all over us the first 10 or 15 minutes,” Weides said. “We were barely able to string a pass together. We withstood the early storm and was fortunate to get a goal on one of our first true attacks of the game. After that I think we were just efficient and effective. We got better as the half wore on. That led into one of those grind-it-out second halves.”
Senior Carlos Ferrer is starting to get things rolling from a goal scoring perspective. He’s now scored in three-straight games after notching career goal Nos. 18 and 19 on Tuesday. He found the back of the net in the 13th and 25th minutes while helping sink the Bruins (4-6). Trenton Williams came off the bench to supply the third and final Bulldog goal. He was assisted by Garrett Perry in the 39th minute.
The 3-0 hole must have felt like a shock to the system for Bellevue (receiving votes in the latest NAIA poll), which had produced impressive results in its previous three games. That run included an upset of then No. 1 Central Methodist University (Mo.) and GPAC foes in Briar Cliff and Northwestern. The Bruins even outshot Concordia, 12-7, and had a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.
To this point, the Bulldogs have used a true team effort. Weides has had the confidence to dip into the bench and to switch up the starting lineup depending upon the opponent. Leonardo Palomo got the nod at center back on Tuesday and made his first career start. Those types of happenings have been common this season.
“We have illustrated some good depth,” Weides said. “Because we have had some injuries to guys who have been starters. The next guy steps up. As coaches we have the luxury right now to make changes that don’t really have to do with performance. It might have to do with something tactically within the game. Guys are really stepping up. One they are called upon, they make an impact and provide us great energy.”
Only an 84th minute goal by Alex Cuenca prevented Concordia from recording a fourth clean sheet of the fall. Bulldog goalkeeper Eduardo Alba did his part by making six saves. The goal by Williams was the first of his career.
Concordia will return to conference play on Saturday by hosting Northwestern (3-4, 0-0 GPAC) at 3:30 p.m. The two sides played to a 1-1 double overtime draw in Orange City, Iowa, last season. Weides wants his team to focus on the task at hand and not so much the 6-0 record. Said Weides, “We’re going to get the best of everybody we play. For us to succeed we need to be ready to beat everybody’s best.”
Win streak reaches seven, Weides moves to top of coaching list
September 21, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – Chalk this one up as another workmanlike effort for a Concordia University men’s soccer team that just finds ways to win. Down a starter who scored two goals in the victory four days earlier? Next man in! Evan Hayden, Moises Jacobo and Roger de la Villa turned in a goal apiece as the Bulldogs defeated Northwestern, 3-1, inside Bulldog Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 21).
With the victory, 12th-year head coach Jason Weides surpassed Dr. Jack Kinworthy for the most coaching wins in program history. Weides notched No. 114 as Concordia moved to 7-0 overall (2-0 GPAC) on the season.
“We feel like we’ve got some good quality depth,” Weides said. “The reality is that we have some guys who didn’t play who have the ability to step on the field for us. I’m really pleased that whether it’s because of an injury, someone’s not playing great or because of a skillset someone brings off the bench – every single time someone’s stepping on and making an impact. That was certainly the case today. Those things are really helpful.”
While senior standout Carlos Ferrer was sidelined on Saturday, the Bulldogs returned senior center back Evan Hayden to the lineup. After missing the previous three games, Hayden wasted little time in making a big impact. He put home his first goal of the season to provide a 1-0 advantage in the third minute. Less than four minutes later, Concordia celebrated Jacobo’s team leading fifth goal of the season.
Starting fast was a key this week. The Bulldogs also blitzed Bellevue on Tuesday with three first half goals. The thing is, you never know where they’re coming from.
“I think (our depth) is what sets us apart from a lot of teams,” Hayden said. “We’re 7-0 right now. Maybe in years past if we have key players go down we don’t continue to fight through and continue to get the results we want. Nothing better you can ask for than a 7-0 start. We just have to keep going.”
In terms of the shot count, this game was actually dead even (nine total shots and six shots on goal apiece). Northwestern (3-5, 0-1 GPAC) settled in after Concordia’s early onslaught and made a game of it. Matthew Roll scored in the 17th minute and it was a one-goal margin until de la Villa’s answer in the 62nd minute. The Red Raiders tested Bulldog keeper Eduardo Alba with a dangerous free kick strike around the 55th minute. Alba made the save to preserve what was then a 2-1 lead.
The seven wins in a row equals the longest streak put together by the 2017 Concordia team that won a school record 16 games. The ’17 group did not suffer a defeat until game No. 12 (started 10-0-1) of that campaign. The consistency shown by the current squad keeps coming back to depth.
“I think the biggest factor for us honestly is depth,” Weides said. “We’ve actually had a large amount of injuries. We’ve come up against some teams that have had injuries, but our depth has helped carry us through some of the tough things we’ve dealt with, really since game two. This group has lofty ambitions for what they want to accomplish this year.”
Next up, the Bulldogs will take on a Kansas Wesleyan University (0-5) team that was ranked in the preseason but has struggled so far. Concordia edged the Coyotes, 3-2, last season in a matchup played in Salina, Kan.
Kansas Wesleyan, Dordt to test unblemished record
September 23, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – Two challengers will attempt to knock the Concordia University men’s soccer team from the ranks of the unbeaten during this week’s action. The Bulldogs will host 2018 NAIA national qualifier Kansas Wesleyan University on Wednesday before a weekend road trip to Dordt. Head coach Jason Weides and his squad roll into the week with a sparkling 7-0 overall record.
Wednesday, Sept. 25 vs. Kansas Wesleyan (0-5), 7 p.m.
-Live Webcast/Stats
Saturday, Sept. 28 at Dordt (3-3-2, 1-1-1), 3:15 p.m.
These are unprecedented times for a program that is 7-0 for the first time in Weides’ 12 seasons at the helm of Concordia men’s soccer. Over that timeframe, the only other Bulldog squad without a loss through seven games was the 2017 squad that started 6-0-1. Concordia hasn’t yet gained traction in the NAIA national poll, but perhaps this is the week for that to happen (new poll announced on Wednesday). According to Massey Ratings, the Bulldogs are currently the No. 14 team in the NAIA.
Massey Ratings also lists Concordia’s strength of schedule at No. 90 amongst NAIA squads. That number is lower than what likely would have been expected at this point, given the quality of programs the Bulldogs put on this slate. The Bulldogs own wins over perennially strong outfits in Bellevue University (2018 national qualifier), MidAmerica Nazarene University (2015 NAIA runner up) and Oklahoma City. Wednesday’s opponent went 12-0 in conference games last season. However, many of those teams are having seasons below their recent standards.
The Bulldogs simply find ways to win while making use of a roster that may have more quality depth than ever before under Weides, now the winningest coach in program history (114 career wins). After scoring two goals in last week’s 3-1 win at Bellevue, senior Carlos Ferrer was sidelined by injury this past Saturday versus Northwestern. On a positive note, senior center back Evan Hayden returned to the lineup, notched the game’s first goal and helped pave the way for another 3-1 win. Eleven Concordia players have combined for the team’s 25 goals this season (the opposition has been held to five goals).
Kansas Wesleyan has had a tough run through nonconference play. The Coyotes remain winless, but did play current No. 1-ranked Missouri Valley College into overtime on Sept. 14 (lost 3-2). Kansas Wesleyan has managed to score just three goals this season with two of them coming via Radley Arnold. The Coyotes were ranked No. 18 in the 2019 NAIA preseason poll fresh off a 17-5 overall mark in 2018. One of those five losses came at home to Concordia.
Dordt has had an up and down start. The Defenders own wins over Viterbo University, Ottawa University and Presentation. The result that jumps out is Dordt’s narrow 1-0 victory over Presentation, a squad the Bulldogs thumped by a 9-0 final score. Patrick Munsey has found the back of the net five times to top the Defenders, who have tallied 11 goals against 14 goals allowed on the year.
Looking ahead to next week, the Bulldogs will have a mid-week bye before hosting Mount Marty on Saturday, Oct. 5.
Unbeaten record falls by wayside in OT battle
September 25, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – A couple of lengthy streaks came to an end on Wednesday (Sept. 25) night when visiting Kansas Wesleyan University walked away from Bulldog Stadium with a 2-1 overtime victory. Just over a minute into the extra period, Jose Escobedo took advantage of a one-on-one with Concordia’s keeper and sent the Coyotes home happy.
Twelfth-year head coach Jason Weides’ squad has tasted defeat for the first time in 2019. The Bulldogs are now 7-1 overall.
“We knew we were going to face a good opponent,” Weides said. “Their record is not indicative of how good of a team they are. I’d argue they have one of the top five most challenging nonconference schedules this year. It was going to prepare them well to succeed at some point … they really strung together a great performance tonight. Unfortunately, they showed early on that they really wanted the game more than us.”
Kansas Wesleyan (1-5) took the fight to Concordia from the opening kickoff. At one point in the first half, the Coyotes had outshot the Bulldogs 8-1. In some ways, Concordia felt fortunate to be down only 1-0 after 45 minutes of play. The Coyotes had a header go off the left post and keeper Eduardo Alba made a nifty save around the 35-minute mark.
Those were the kinds of breaks that made it feel as though it’s Concordia’s year in 2019. The Bulldogs had momentum in the 80th minute when Daniel Campbell got on the board for the first time this season. He played a touch with his left foot and lofted a shot from the right corner of the 18 and tucked it inside the left post. Tie ballgame.
Suddenly Concordia had put itself in position to win a game it had been outplayed in for the large majority of the night. They could also pull confidence from the fact that the program had gone nine overtime games in a row without suffering a defeat.
But it was not to be. Kansas Wesleyan capitalized on a turnover that came via a free kick. The goal came in lightning fast fashion with the key touch being a header from Yader Rodriguez that played Escobedo in behind the Bulldog center backs. Escobedo slotted the ball to the left of a drawn out Alba for the winner.
The Bulldogs had hoped to again come through while showcasing their depth. Senior all-conference performer Carlos Ferrer sat out again and senior center back Evan Hayden was hobbled. Leading goal scorer Moises Jacobo was also forced out of the game before returning in the second half.
None of those are excuses in Weides’ mind. His team got outplayed (18-13 in shots and 6-2 in corners) and has work to do in order to accomplish its lofty goals of competing at the top of the GPAC.
“You have to approach every game as the most important game on your schedule,” Weides said. “At the beginning tonight I’m not sure we had the right mentality. Hopefully that’s the lesson we can take away. Every team will be gunning for us.”
The Bulldogs will get back to conference action on Saturday when they take on Dordt (3-3-2, 1-1-1 GPAC) in Sioux Center, Iowa. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. CT. Concordia has gone 3-0-1 in the previous four meetings with the last Defender victory in the series occurring in 2014.
Winning ways return in Sioux Center
September 28, 2019
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – The Concordia University men’s soccer team set out to quickly wash away the feelings it experienced three days earlier in its first loss of 2019. In action Saturday (Sept. 28) at Dordt, the Bulldogs took care of business in impressive fashion. They outshot the host Defenders, 27-3, and ran away with a 5-0 victory.
This was the response 12th-year head coach Jason Weides had hoped for. Fortunately, Wednesday’s 2-1 overtime loss to Kansas Wesleyan University did no harm to Concordia’s hopes of comping for a conference championship. The Bulldogs are 8-1 overall and 3-0 in league play.
“It was a good performance,” Weides said. “I thought we did well defensively in limiting Dordt’s chances. They had two pretty good chances in the first half that could have made it a much tighter game had they scored on one of those. Fortunately we were able to maintain the shutout. Callum (Goldsmith) made a really nice save in the second half.
“We were able to go deep into our bench and get some good quality minutes for a lot of guys. It was a good overall team performance.”
Four different Concordia players found the back of the net with Garrett Perry striking for a pair of goals. Matthew Ho got the run started with a 14th-minute goal. Moises Jacobo (42’) and Josue Fernandez (82’) added a goal apiece. Jacobo pushed his team high goal count to six while Fernandez knocked in his first as a Bulldog.
Momentarily, the Defenders (3-4-2, 1-2-1 GPAC) appeared to score in the final seconds. However, the potential goal was disallowed. Dordt’s lone victory within conference play was a 1-0 decision at Presentation. The Bulldogs are now 4-0-1 against the Defenders over the past five matchups.
In some ways, Wednesday may have served as a bit of a wakeup call. Concordia had to have three points on Saturday to keep pace with other GPAC heavyweights such as sixth-ranked Hastings and Morningside.
“We were certainly looking to respond positively,” Weides said. “Everybody recognized that we did not perform as well as we were capable of. We didn’t want to play anymore games where we were outhustled and outworked. The guys got back down to the basics and did well with that.”
The Bulldogs will be back at home next Saturday (Oct. 5) to host Mount Marty (2-5, 1-2 GPAC) for a 3:15 p.m. CT contest. The lone Lancer GPAC victory this season came by a 6-1 score over Presentation. Mount Marty played Hastings into double overtime on Sept. 21 before falling, 1-0. Last season Concordia defeated the Lancers, 3-1.
Bulldogs set to host improving Mount Marty
October 3, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – More than halfway through the regular season, the Concordia University men’s soccer team has enjoyed a much needed mid-week bye. The Bulldogs have been idle since their 5-0 victory at Dordt on Sept. 28. The blowout victory moved head coach Jason Weides’ squad to 8-1 overall. It remains perfect at 3-0 within conference play. Now Concordia gets set to host Mount Marty at 3:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. The contest will be carried live by the Concordia Sports Network.
The bye was well-time simply because it has allowed Weides to rest some key performers who have been banged up over the season’s first nine games. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs do not expect to have senior Roger de la Villa available for the remainder of the campaign. On the plus side, senior standout Carlos Ferrer is expected to make a return to the lineup in the near future. The team’s depth has been a saving grace in making up for a rash of injuries.
In the latest GPAC poll, Concordia again checked in at No. 3 behind Hastings and Morningside. Prior to the loss last week to Kansas Wesleyan University, the Bulldogs appeared to have a case for top 25 consideration. In Massey Ratings, Concordia is currently rated 29th nationally. Up against what Massey rates as the NAIA’s 115th most challenging schedule to date, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by a combined total of 31-7. The victory at Dordt marked the team’s fourth shutout of the season.
Fifteen Concordia players have found the back of the net so far this season. Budding freshman Moises Jacobo has led the way to this point with six goals. Four others have at least three goals: Ferrer (four), de la Villa (three), Ryan LeTourneau (three) and Isaiah Shaddick (three). Weides also believes there are more goals in Garrett Perry, who knocked in his first two of the season in the win at Dordt. Concordia ranks 24th nationally in goals scored per game (3.44). It also owns an active streak of 10-straight GPAC regular-season games without a loss (8-0-2).
The Bulldogs have typically had their way with Mount Marty (3-5, 2-2 GPAC), which they defeated 11-0 in 2016. Since then, the meetings have gotten more competitive. Last season Concordia toppled the Lancers, 3-1, in Yankton. Mount Marty is clearly getting better. The Lancers have beaten Presentation, 6-1, and Dakota Wesleyan, 3-1, inside conference play. Head coach Carlos Saenz’s squad also pushed No. 5 Hastings to the brink in a 1-0 double overtime loss on Sept. 21. Mount Marty has 11 goals scored compared to 16 allowed this season.
Next week will challenge Concordia. It will host Midland on Oct. 9 before heading to Hastings for a showdown on Oct. 12.
Men's soccer honored with 2018-19 Team Academic Award
October 4, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University men’s soccer program has been named a recipient of the 2018-19 United Soccer Coaches College Women’s Team Academic Award, as announced on Oct. 3. The honor was earned based upon performance in the classroom during the 2018-19 academic year. Head coach Jason Weides’ team also earned NAIA Scholar-Team status last season after posting a collective GPA of 3.23.
Additionally, the program was represented in 2018-19 by four NAIA Scholar-Athletes: David Carrasco, JD Dominguez, Derek Eitzmann and Mickey Waldron.
United Soccer Coaches (formerly the NSCAA) announced the Team Academic Award Winners at the high school and college levels to recognize exemplary performance in the classroom during the 2018-19 academic year. A total of 992 soccer teams (345 men, 647 women) posted a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher, thereby earning the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award. Of that total, 259 schools had both their men’s and women’s programs recognized (Concordia included).
United Soccer Coaches annually celebrates the academic achievements of high school and college soccer teams whose student-athletes collectively demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their studies over the course of a full school year. College Team Academic Award recipients are active members of the United Soccer Coaches College Services Program with a composite grade point of average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale for all players on the roster.
Late goals thwart Mount Marty
October 5, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – It’s been a while since the Concordia University men’s soccer program has been in this kind of fight with Mount Marty. The Lancers are proving they can give anyone a tussle – and that includes fifth-ranked Hastings. In Saturday (Oct. 5) afternoon’s matchup, the Bulldogs finally got their attack going late in the affair and won, 2-0, while on their home turf.
This was an important one for head coach Jason Weides’ squad not to look past with Midland and Hastings on tap next week. Concordia is now 9-1 overall (second best start ever under Weides) and 4-0 in league play.
“It took a lot (to win today). They really tested us,” Weides said. “We knew they were capable of testing us because they’ve really improved the last few years. They’re really close to turning the corner and having even better results. Our two goals we scored were good goals, nice shots. It was a dicey game all the way up until that second goal. It never really seemed like a sure thing.”
There were only two combined shots for either team in the opening 45 minutes. If there’s one obvious thing the Bulldogs can improve upon, it’s finding ways to create more chances on the attacking end. But the two goals turned in by Concordia on Saturday were beauties, just in time to save it from a potential overtime.
In the 80th minute, Moises Jacobo skillfully played the ball around a couple of defenders and tapped a pass to Carlos Orquiz, who hammered a shot inside the right post for the game’s first goal. The next one was similarly impressive. Garrett Perry did most of the work himself while drilling a frozen rope into the back of the net from outside the 18. Perry now has three goals over the past two games.
The Bulldogs could then exhale with just over five minutes left on the clock. Said Orquiz, “What we struggled with was finding shots in the first half. We have to take them with more confidence and keep getting more of them.”
There were some moments when it appeared Mount Marty (3-6, 2-3 GPAC) might grab the lead. A turnover in the defensive third forced Eduardo Alba to make a save early in the second half. Then about midway through the second half, the Lancers had a corner kick ping pong around the box, just in front of the goal. Unfortunately for Mount Marty, it was another close call just like its 1-0 double overtime loss to Hastings. Concordia edged the Lancers in shots, 8-7. Mount Marty had a 6-5 advantage in corner kicks.
The Bulldogs will resume GPAC play on Wednesday when they host Midland (6-3-1, 2-1 GPAC) at 8 p.m. CT inside Bulldog Stadium. The two sides also met in Seward in the 2018 GPAC tournament quarterfinals. That battle saw Concordia celebrate a triumph in a PK shootout. The Bulldogs won last season’s regular-season meeting by a 3-1 score.
“We need to create more chances and more shots,” Weides said while previewing next week’s action. “It was frustrating today having two shots in the first half. Against those teams we’re going to have to create more than eight chances – or we’re going to have to be very efficient.”
First-place standing to be challenged by Midland, No. 5 Hastings
October 8, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – This week will go a long ways in regards to deciding how big of a factor the Concordia University men’s soccer team will be in the race for the GPAC regular-season title. The Bulldogs will be taking on two perennially strong GPAC programs this week while hosting Midland on Wednesday before hitting the road to play No. 5 Hastings on Saturday. Midland and Hastings are a combined 7-1 in GPAC play.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 9 vs. Midland (7-3-1, 3-1 GPAC), 8 p.m.
-Live Webcast/Stats
Saturday, Oct. 12 at (5) Hastings (8-0-1, 4-0 GPAC), 8 p.m.
-Live Webcast/Stats
Head coach Jason Weides’ squad remains perfect in GPAC play at 4-0 (9-1 overall). After a week between games, Concordia returned to action this past Saturday and earned a 2-0 home win over Mount Marty. The contest was scoreless for nearly 80 minutes before Carlos Orquiz and Garrett Perry struck for highlight reel worthy goals to help sink an improving Lancer squad. The Bulldogs have now won nine meetings in a row over Mount Marty, which played Hastings wire-to-wire in a 1-0 double overtime loss for the Lancers on Sept. 21.
Concordia will have to make its championship push without the services of senior Roger de la Villa, who suffered in an injury prior to the 5-0 win at Dordt on Sept. 28. Thankfully for the Bulldogs, their depth has helped cover for injuries to a number of starters. All-conference performer Carlos Ferrer has also missed the past four games. Despite some of that misfortune, Concordia has outscored its opponents by a combined total of 33-7 while seeing 16 different players find the back of the net. Moises Jacobo leads the way with six goals this season. Meanwhile, freshman goalkeeper Eduardo Alba and his teammates rank second in the GPAC in terms of fewest goals allowed per game (0.70).
Midland has gotten on a role of its own three-straight GPAC wins: 2-0 over Mount Marty, 6-1 over Morningside and 5-1 over Dakota Wesleyan. The blowout of Morningside was particularly eye opening considering the Mustangs had received votes in the NAIA national poll. The Warriors have outscored their opponents, 36-12, with the help of seven goals by Robert Wiseman. Concordia is 3-0-1 in its last four matchups with Midland. The tie occurred last season in the GPAC tournament quarterfinals. The Bulldogs advanced by winning the PK shootout.
A yearly favorite in the GPAC, Hastings ended Concordia’s 2018 season in the GPAC semifinals. The Bulldogs have not beaten the Broncos since the upset that came in the 2015 GPAC tournament championship game. Head coach Tim Bohnenkamp’s program remains formidable despite graduating Daniel Whitehall, who scored 93 goals in his collegiate career. The 2019 Hastings team has been especially tough to crack from a defensive standpoint. The Broncos have only allowed their foes three goals through nine games. It’s been a key to Hastings winning five times by one-goal margins.
After leaving Hastings on Saturday night, Concordia will shift focus next week to games versus Morningside on Wednesday, Oct. 16 and at Briar Cliff on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Rivals play to 1-1 draw
October 10, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – It’s typically a good one when the Concordia University men’s soccer team and Midland get together on the pitch. In the most recent meeting, the Bulldogs celebrated a penalty kick shootout triumph over the Warriors in the 2018 GPAC tournament quarterfinals. Wednesday (Oct. 9) produced a similar result, but without the shootout. The two sides played to a 1-1 double overtime draw inside Bulldog Stadium.
The tie means that 12th-year head coach Jason Weides’ squad earns one point towards the GPAC standings. Concordia stands at 9-1-1 overall, including a 4-0-1 mark within the conference.
“It’s a hard-earned point with two good teams – two teams that will certainly battle for good position within the league,” Weides said. “We had aims and ambitions to walk away here with a win, but I don’t think there’s any reason to hang our head about a hard-earned point. It was a great college soccer game. For the fans that were here, it was probably a great one to watch.”
Midland (7-3-2, 3-1-1 GPAC) had plenty of reason to enter town with confidence having steamrolled both Morningside and Dakota Wesleyan last week. The Warriors had more opportunities than did the Bulldogs during the sudden death overtime action. Concordia goalkeeper Eduardo Alba made two of his nine saves over the 20 minutes of extra time while ensuring his side kept from suffering its first GPAC loss. Decker Mattimoe also made a noteworthy play in the first half in clearing the ball off the goal line.
The game’s lone goals came within less than four minutes of each other. Junior Garrett Perry continued his goal scoring splurge by drilling a laser into the back of the net in the 54th minute. Perry has now scored at least one goal in three-consecutive games. However, the Bulldogs did not hang onto the 1-0 lead for long. Thomas Crawford knotted the score in the 58th minute.
The contest saw the return of Carlos Ferrer, who had missed the previous four games due to injury. Ferrer came off the bench to attempt to ignite Concordia’s offensive attack. There remains a need for the Bulldogs to create more offensive chances. Midland outshot Concordia, 19-8.
But the effort was there for the Bulldogs. Weides sensed this one felt like a GPAC postseason game. These two sides may see one another down the road.
“Midland’s a good attacking team – I think one of the better teams in our conference in terms of their movement forward,” Weides said. “I thought we did a good job of defending it. I think the guys as a team really defended well. Midland was a team that was really hot and scoring tons of goals.”
The Warriors have put five or more goals on the board four times this season. Their only defeat inside the conference occurred at Briar Cliff on Sept. 21. Midland’s dismantling of Morningside, 6-1, was especially impressive.
Another significant challenge looms on Saturday when the Bulldogs will be at Lloyd Wilson Field for an 8 p.m. CT kickoff with No. 5 Hastings (9-0-1, 5-0 GPAC). Concordia last defeated the perennially powerful Broncos in the 2015 GPAC tournament championship game. The Bulldogs were beaten by Hastings, 3-0, last season in the GPAC semifinals.
GPAC streak halted at No. 5 Hastings
October 12, 2019
HASTINGS, Neb. – Roughly halfway through the GPAC slate, Hastings sits in a familiar spot atop the conference standings. The fifth-ranked Broncos reasserted themselves on Saturday (Oct. 12) night by handing the Concordia University men’s soccer team a 3-0 defeat at Lloyd Wilson field in Hastings. The Bulldogs have not beaten Hastings since the 2015 GPAC tournament title game.
As 12th-year head coach Jason Weides has known for some time, GPAC championships go through Hastings. Despite the loss, a lot remains on the table for a Concordia squad that is now 9-2-1 overall and 4-1-1 in league play.
“We weren’t at our best and that was disappointing,” Weides said. “If you’re going to compete with the top teams in the nation you have to be at your best. For whatever reason, we were far from it tonight. There were some decent moments in the first half. There were a few good spurts. Credit to Hastings. They took full advantage of us. We got outplayed today.”
The Bulldogs had ventured through 12-straight GPAC regular-season games without a loss until running into the Broncos (10-0-1, 6-0 GPAC) on Saturday. Fernando Lisboa (16’), Dan Wheeler (54’) and Callum Watson (81’) each got on the board for Hastings, which outshot Concordia, 22-5, and had a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks. Weides saw defensive errors that helped lead to the three Hastings goals.
On the attacking end, the Bulldogs are still working to figure out more ways to create chances. Concordia had only one shot in the opening half. Leading goal scorer Moises Jacobo was held to one shot, which was saved by Hastings keeper Jesus Parra. A run of three-straight games with a goal ended for Garrett Perry, who put two shots on frame.
Bulldog keeper Eduardo Alba did his best to give his team a shot. He made seven saves – six in the second half. The Bronco attack remains potent despite having graduated prolific goal scorer Daniel Whitehall.
The Bulldogs will return home on Wednesday and welcome Morningside (9-2, 3-1 GPAC) to Seward for an 8 p.m. CT kickoff. Concordia will attempt to avenge the 2-1 defeat it suffered to the Mustangs last season in Sioux City, Iowa. Morningside had been receiving votes nationally prior to its 6-1 loss at Midland on Oct. 2.
“We are still in relentless pursuit of our goals,” Weides said. “I think they became a lot harder after tonight, but as long as that goal is still attainable we will continue to pursue it. This was a little bit of humble pie. If we want to get where we want to go, we really have to come to play against the top teams.”
Concordia set to meet Mustangs, Chargers
October 14, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University men’s soccer team will run through both Sioux City GPAC schools as part of another critical week of conference action. The Bulldogs will host Morningside on Wednesday and then travel to Briar Cliff on Saturday. Head coach Jason Weides’ squad was unable to put a win on the board last week, but it remains in the hunt near the top of the league standings.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 16 vs. Morningside (10-2, 4-1 GPAC), 8 p.m.
-Live Webcast/Stats
Saturday, Oct. 19 at Briar Cliff (7-4-1, 5-1 GPAC), 3:30 p.m.
-Live Webcast | Live Stats
Concordia (9-2-1, 4-1-1 GPAC) has put up 13 points towards the league standings, tied with Midland for third place. Dating back to last season, the Bulldogs had gone 12-straight GPAC regular-season games without suffering a defeat. That run ended with this past weekend’s 3-0 loss at No. 5 Hastings. Earlier in the week, Concordia settled for a 1-1 double overtime draw with Midland. The Bulldogs were unable to hold a 1-0 lead provided by a memorable strike from junior Garrett Perry. Concordia is 3-0-2 over its past five meetings with the Warriors. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have not beaten Hastings since the 2015 GPAC tournament championship game.
The three goals scored by Hastings were a season high for Concordia opponents. The Bulldogs had not allowed that many goals in a game since their 3-0 loss to the Broncos in last season’s GPAC semifinals. Concordia has conceded either one or no goals in nine of its first 12 games of 2019. Even with last week’s result, the Bulldogs still rank No. 2 among GPAC squads in terms of fewest goals allowed per game (0.92). With the help of leading goal scorer Moises Jacobo (six goals), Concordia has outscored its opponents by a combined total of 34-11 this fall.
Morningside edged the Bulldogs, 2-1, last season in Sioux City and will make for a significant challenge on Wednesday. The Mustangs had been receiving votes prior to suffering a 6-1 loss to Midland on Oct. 2. They have since recovered with wins over Northwestern and Presentation. Concordia will have to be aware of striker Okan Goelge, who has knocked in 13 goals already this season. Morningside has outscored its foes, 40-13, in 2019.
The Bulldogs managed to defeat Briar Cliff, 2-1, in double overtime a year ago. The Chargers bring a four-game win streak into this week. Their only GPAC loss came by a 1-0 decision at Hastings on Sept. 28. Briar Cliff has a prolific goal scorer of its own in Marcus Horwood (10 goals). It owns a positive goal different of 18 (32 goals scored, 14 goals allowed).
After this week’s action, Concordia will have only three regular-season games remaining on the slate. Next week the Bulldogs will have a mid-week bye before welcoming Jamestown to Seward on Oct. 26.
Short-handed Dawgs tripped up by Morningside
October 16, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – Rarely this season has the Concordia University men’s soccer team placed its full complement of talents on the field. For much of the fall, the Bulldogs have used their depth to make up for injuries that have popped up all too frequently. Morningside took advantage of the situation on Wednesday (Oct. 16) night and emerged with a 3-0 victory inside Bulldog Stadium.
No matter the circumstances, 12th-year head coach Jason Weides expects more out of his squad. Concordia has slipped to 9-3-1 overall and to 4-2-1 in conference play. The Bulldogs also dropped a 3-0 decision at No. 5 Hastings to cap last week.
It was one of those nights. Even after a spectacular save made by Eduardo Alba in the 65th minute, Concordia had nothing to celebrate. A Bulldog defender knocked in a Mustang cross that resulted in a back-breaking own goal. To compound things, on one of Concordia’s best offensive chances of the night, Moises Jacobo missed to the left of goal. Later the Bulldogs had a goal disallowed due to an offside call.
Concordia is essentially playing without four starters with Roger de la Villa, Caleb Goldsmith, Carlos Ferrer and Joao Pedro Verissimo all sidelined. It’s little solace for dropping a pair of games that have likely taken the Bulldogs out of contention for the GPAC regular-season title.
Morningside (11-2, 5-1 GPAC) deserves its share of credit for what took place on Wednesday. The Mustangs could smell blood late in the match and tacked on their third goal of the night via a strike into the net from Jan-Luca Schlauer. Morningside very nearly made it 4-0 on a shot by Austin Lingle that hit the left post. The Mustangs held a slight, 14-12, advantage in the shot count.
Things have been a little off for Concordia in its past two outings, Prior to the game at Hastings, the Bulldogs had not allowed any of their opponents more than two goals. Concordia had also begun the season with 13-consecutive games without being shut out.
The Bulldogs will be back on the road for a second Saturday in a row with their journey to Briar Cliff (8-4-1, 6-1 GPAC) up next. Kickoff from Sioux City, Iowa, is set for 3:30 p.m. CT. Last season Concordia clipped the Chargers, 2-1, in double overtime. Briar Cliff now owns a five-game win streak after defeating Northwestern, 1-0, on Wednesday.
Bulldogs to honor senior class prior to Saturday game vs. Jamestown
October 24, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – In its only game of the week, the Concordia University men’s soccer team will host Jamestown on Saturday. The Bulldogs will use the occasion to honor a senior class of seven members. Kickoff from Bulldog Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m. CT. A live webcast and live stats will be available via the Concordia Sports Network.
Head coach Jason Weides’ squad has been idle since the 2-0 loss at Briar Cliff on Oct. 19. In that defeat, Concordia (9-4-1, 4-3-1 GPAC) held the Chargers off the scoreboard until the 76th minute. The Bulldogs played on the defensive for much of that contest while trying to make up for a rash of injuries that have sidelined several starters. Sophomore Callum Goldsmith made his first start of the year at goalkeeper in place of Eduardo Alba and collected eight saves.
Concordia had entered the conference slate with hopes of earning a top-four seed and a GPAC tournament quarterfinal home game for the third-straight year. Unfortunately those hopes have essentially vanished due to a record of 0-3-1 over the past four games against the current top four in the league standings. The race for the GPAC regular-season title could go down to the wire with three points separating Briar Cliff (24), Midland (22), Hastings (21) and Morningside (21) in the league standings. The Broncos were upset by the Warriors on Wednesday night.
The senior class features David Carrasco, Roger de la Villa, JD Dominguez, Carlos Ferrer, Evan Hayden, Matthew Ho and Miguel Munoz. The four-year Bulldog seniors have helped the program to a combined record of 46-19-8 since the start of the 2016 season. The 2017 squad remains the school record holder for most victories in a single season with 16. Ferrer and company also helped lead Concordia to GPAC tournament championship game appearances in 2016 and 2017. The current team spent two weeks receiving votes in the national poll.
As of Thursday (Oct. 24) afternoon, Jamestown (6-7, 3-4 GPAC) was in action at Dordt. Prior to that outing, the Jimmies suffered a 2-1 overtime loss to Midland on Oct. 19. Jamestown has been outscored by the opposition, 41-26, on the season. That goals allowed total was inflated by blowout losses to three ranked teams (21 goals allowed in those three contests). Aaron Pike paces the Jimmies with eight goals in 2019. Last year’s meeting with Concordia concluded with a 1-1 draw.
The 2019 regular season will be down to two games after this weekend. The Bulldogs will host Doane on Oct. 30 before venturing to Dakota Wesleyan on Nov. 2.
GPAC seeding on the line in final week of regular season
October 28, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University men’s soccer team had hoped to be playing for a shot at a GPAC regular-season title by the time this part of the schedule rolled around. That’s not the case, but the Bulldogs could still potentially lock in the GPAC’s No. 5 seed with a successful final week of the regular season. Concordia will host Doane on Wednesday and then head to Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 30 vs. Doane (3-11-1, 2-5-1 GPAC), 8 p.m.
-Live Webcast/Stats
Saturday, Nov. 2 at Dakota Wesleyan (2-10-3, 1-8-1 GPAC), 6:30 p.m.
-Live Webcast/Stats
Head coach Jason Weides’ squad could use the win from an emotional standpoint. The Bulldogs are 0-3-2 since their 2-0 home victory over Mount Marty on Oct. 5. Unfortunately for Concordia, injuries mounted during the most challenging stretch of conference action. There is a close battle brewing at the top of the GPAC between Briar Cliff (8-1), Hastings (8-1), Morningside (8-1) and Midland (8-1-1). The Bulldogs will find themselves on the road against one of those aforementioned squads in the quarterfinals of the GPAC tournament. Concordia had hosted in the quarterfinals in the 2016 through 2018 seasons.
The well has run a bit dry lately in terms of goal scoring. Junior Garrett Perry (five goals in 2019) has both of the team’s two goals over the past five games. Thankfully Perry has avoided the injuries that have plagued many of his teammates. On the plus side, the Bulldogs did return some of their key players in this past week’s 1-1 draw with Jamestown. Senior Carlos Ferrer came back and started. On the other hand, Callum Goldsmith started in goal for the second game in a row with Eduardo Alba still sidelined.
Doane has been outscored by a combined total of 34-13 this season. The Tigers managed to end a seven-game streak without a victory by defeating Dakota Wesleyan, 3-1, over the weekend. This marks the third-straight season that Doane has stumbled to an overall mark well below .500. Markus Pieper has contributed five goals in 2019.
Dakota Wesleyan has not earned a victory since defeating Presentation, 4-0, back on Sept. 25. That performance represented a season high goal scoring outburst. Since then the Tigers have not found the back of the net more than once in any single game. Their foes have outnumbered DWU, 38-12, on the season. Last season it took Concordia overtime until it put the Tigers away, 2-1, in Seward.
Dates for the GPAC tournament are Nov. 6 for the quarterfinals, No. 9 for the semifinals and Nov. 9 for the championship game.
Three Bulldogs score goals in shutout of Doane
October 31, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – The result that had eluded the Concordia University men’s soccer team of late surfaced once again on a bone chilling Wednesday (Oct. 30) night inside Bulldog Stadium. Three different Concordia players found the back of the net in dispatching of Doane, 3-0, in the team’s 2019 home regular-season finale. The Bulldogs gained the advantage in the 23rd minute and controlled the action the rest of the way.
The fairly comfortable victory put an end to a run of five-straight games without a win (0-3-2 during that stretch). At 5-3-2 in GPAC play (10-4-2 overall), head coach Jason Weides’ squad can finish as high as fifth in the conference standings.
“Beyond the first five-to-10 minutes of the game, I thought we did some good things moving forward and creating some good chances,” Weides said. “It was a good response to the last couple of weeks. We haven’t gotten the results we wanted, but we have to keep on grinding and keep on fighting. Top to bottom it was a good performance. Everyone who came on the field made an impact.”
At this point in the season, Concordia has had to accept that certain players will be out of the lineup with injury. Fortunately, depth has allowed the Bulldogs to remain a strong challenger to anyone in the GPAC. The lineup Weides employed on Wednesday certainly made life challenging for the Tiger attack, which managed only five shots. Two of which were saved by goalkeeper Callum Goldsmith, who made his third start in a row.
Despite an obvious advantage in possession, Concordia held a modest 1-0 lead for much of the arctic night. Isaiah Shaddick found the back of the net in the 23rd minute and the score remained 1-0 until the 79th minute. That’s when Ryan LeTourneau struck for his fourth goal of 2019. Some pretty passing inside the box then led to Matthew Ho’s score in the 84th minute. Assists were credited to Decker Mattimoe and Moises Jacobo.
The Bulldogs certainly would relish the chance to play again on their home turf, but that won’t happen unless some mayhem breaks out in the GPAC tournament. One senior in four-year starter Carlos Ferrer is just happy to be able to play out the closing stretches of his career after battling back from his own injury problems.
“No one wants their senior season to be ended early,” Ferrer said. “Unfortunately this year we’ve had a couple of guys who have gone through that. I didn’t want to be in that position. I wanted to represent them really well.”
Doane (3-12-1, 2-6-1 GPAC) had been coming off a 3-1 home win over Dakota Wesleyan. The Tigers (currently in ninth place in the GPAC) desperately needed another victory to enhance their chances of reaching the GPAC tournament. Regardless of where Concordia and Doane reside in the standings, their matchups frequently end with overtimes. Last year’s meeting resulted in a 2-2 tie.
The Bulldogs will close out the regular season on Saturday in Mitchell, S.D. Kickoff between Concordia and Dakota Wesleyan (2-10-3, 1-8-1 GPAC) is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT from Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex. Last season’s matchup in Seward resulted in a 1-0 Bulldog victory via a golden goal from Roger de la Villa.
Said Weides, “We feel like we can be a pretty dangerous postseason team. We felt all season we could have been one of those (GPAC championship) contenders.”
Regular season ends with 1-0 loss at DWU
November 2, 2019
MITCHELL, S.D. – The Concordia University men’s soccer team had hoped to enter postseason play on a high note, but it will be forced to quickly push the reset button. The Bulldogs failed to find the back of the net on six shots and dropped a 1-0 Saturday (Nov. 2) evening matchup at Dakota Wesleyan. Concordia was coming off a 3-0 home win over Doane.
Twelfth-year head coach Jason Weides’ squad settled for a 10-5-2 overall record (5-4-2 GPAC) at the close of regular-season action. With 17 league points, the Bulldogs have placed sixth in the GPAC.
“It was one of those frustrating ones where we didn’t have a lot of opportunities,” Weides said. “We certainly had some later in the game. We were aggressive in trying to equalize and just couldn’t seem to find the back of the net. We had a really good chance that went off the crossbar. I really thought we were going to get it and push it to overtime.”
Concordia was up against a Tigers squad that already knew its season would end on Saturday. Their simple motivation may have been to keep the Bulldogs from moving up a peg in the final GPAC standings. Dakota Wesleyan (3-10-3, 2-8-1 GPAC) notched the game’s lone goal right at the 32-minute mark off a free kick. Weides felt like his team could have and maybe should have prevented Joel Sanchez’s goal that occurred at that time.
Eduardo Alba returned at goalkeeper after missing time due to injury. Alba was credited with five saves, including a crucial one in a one-on-one situation just before halftime. His denial of the Tiger shot kept the Bulldogs within a goal at the break.
Only three Concordia players mustered a shot – Daniel Campbell, David Carrasco and Matthew Ho each took two shots. Campbell landed one on goal. The goal-scoring drought that had plagued the Bulldogs prior to the win over Doane reappeared on Saturday. Dakota Wesleyan finished with a 12-6 advantage in the shot count.
Now Concordia plans to refocus for the GPAC tournament. Some reinforcements may be on the way for a program that has reached at least the GPAC semifinals in five-straight years.
“We definitely have to recollect ourselves for the playoffs,” Weides said. “The good news is we hope to have several guys back who have been out. We’ll have a challenge of putting a team together after some of them have been out.”
The Bulldogs will open up postseason play with the GPAC quarterfinals on Wednesday (Nov. 6). Unofficially, Concordia will be the sixth seed and play at third-seeded Hastings (13-3-2, 9-2 GPAC), which is in an unfamiliar position after failing to win the conference regular-season title for the first time in GPAC history.
Bulldogs fall to tough Hastings team in quarterfinal match
November 7, 2019
HASTINGS, Neb. – At one point in the season, the Bulldogs found themselves holding a national rank inside the NAIA top 25, a 9-1 record, and a 4-0 record in GPAC play. After a plague of injuries and misfortune, the tides quickly turned. The way the season ended for Concordia was disappointing, to say the least.
Entering the GPAC Quarterfinal as the sixth seed, Coach Weides and Co. knew their road match-up against the three-seed, Hastings College, would be a tough one. This ultimately proved to be true when the Broncos shut the Bulldogs out 3-0, after out-shooting them 26-6 in the game.
The Bulldogs were forced to play defensively for most of the game and could never really create much of an attack on the offensive end. “I thought we did a better job of creating chances in the second half and were a lot more aggressive with around fifteen minutes left. However, when you try to be more aggressive, a team like that can make you pay on the other end” said Coach Weides.
“Overall, I thought our guys played organized, disciplined, and fought hard. They (Hastings) were able to get a lucky bounce for their second goal and capitalized. It is disappointing to see that type of outcome and result, especially for our seniors. I want to thank all of our seniors for everything they have poured into the program over the years, it did not go unnoticed.”
With the off-season coming much quicker than originally anticipated, a major focus will be to get guys as healthy as possible for the next time around. The Bulldogs will regroup and set their sights on a more hopeful 2020 season.
Five Bulldogs tabbed honorable mention All-GPAC
November 18, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – A quintet of Bulldogs from the Concordia University men’s soccer program garnered honorable mention All-GPAC recognition, as announced by the conference on Monday (Nov. 18). The honors went to freshman goalkeeper Eduardo Alba, freshman defender Renzo Bozzo, senior forward Carlos Ferrer, freshman forward Moises Jacobo and junior midfielder Garrett Perry.
A native of Katy, Texas, Alba won the starting keeper job out of fall camp and started every game but three. After making eight saves in a 3-0 shutout of York College, Alba earned GPAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 3. For the season, Alba logged more than 1,200 minutes in goal, made 74 saves and posted, three shutouts, an .804 save percentage and a 1.290 goals against average.
Bozzo started and played in 17 games as a defender. Bozzo found the back of the net in his very first collegiate game and wound up with two goals on the season. He also played an instrumental role in the team’s six shutouts.
A second team All-GPAC choice in both 2017 and 2018, Ferrer helped the program to a combined 47 wins over the past four seasons. Unfortunately, injuries limited the Tijuana, Mexico, native to 12 games in 2019. Ferrer managed to record four goals (one game winner) and two assists. In his four years as a Bulldog, Ferrer played in 71 games and totaled 19 goals and 18 assists. His nine assists in 2018 are a program single-season record.
Jacobo, who hails from Grand Island, Neb., provided some goal scoring punch in his first collegiate season. He paced the team with six goals (two game winners) while adding five assists. Jacobo notched two goals and two assists in the 9-0 victory over Presentation on Sept. 14.
A native of Corona, Calif., Perry became a bigger goal scoring threat as a junior. He registered five goals and three assists in 16 games. Perry recorded the first multi-goal game of his career when he put two away in the 5-0 win at Dordt on Sept. 28. Over three collegiate seasons, Perry has played in 49 games and has produced eight goals and eight assists.
Head coach Jason Weides’ squad finished the 2019 season with a record of 10-6-2. Concordia’s season ended with a loss at Hastings in the quarterfinals of the GPAC tournament.
Concordia lands six on All-Nebraska men's soccer team
December 23, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – A group of six Bulldogs landed on the NAIA/NCAA Division III All-Nebraska Men’s Soccer Team released on Dec. 21 by the Omaha World-Herald. Freshman Eduardo Albo and junior Garrett Perry were placed on the 17-member All-Nebraska squad while freshman Renzo Bozzo, seniors Roger de la Villa and Carlos Ferrer and freshman Moises Jacobo garnered honorable mention accolades.
A native of Katy, Texas, Alba won the starting keeper job out of fall camp and started every game but three. After making eight saves in a 3-0 shutout of York College, Alba earned GPAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 3. For the season, Alba logged more than 1,200 minutes in goal, made 74 saves and posted, three shutouts, an .804 save percentage and a 1.290 goals against average.
Bozzo started and played in 17 games as a defender. Bozzo found the back of the net in his very first collegiate game and wound up with two goals on the season. He also played an instrumental role in the team’s six shutouts.
A two-year member of the program after transferring from Marshalltown Community College, de la Villa picked up second team All-GPAC honors in 2018. He notched three goals and four assists in eight games in 2019 before having his season cut short by injury. De la Villa posted 11 goals in 27 career games at Concordia.
A second team All-GPAC choice in both 2017 and 2018, Ferrer helped the program to a combined 47 wins over the past four seasons. Unfortunately, injuries limited the Tijuana, Mexico, native to 12 games in 2019. Ferrer managed to record four goals (one game winner) and two assists. In his four years as a Bulldog, Ferrer played in 71 games and totaled 19 goals and 18 assists. His nine assists in 2018 are a program single-season record.
Jacobo, who hails from Grand Island, Neb., provided some goal scoring punch in his first collegiate season. He paced the team with six goals (two game winners) while adding five assists. Jacobo notched two goals and two assists in the 9-0 victory over Presentation on Sept. 14.
A native of Corona, Calif., Perry became a bigger goal scoring threat as a junior. He registered five goals and three assists in 16 games. Perry recorded the first multi-goal game of his career when he put two away in the 5-0 win at Dordt on Sept. 28. Over three collegiate seasons, Perry has played in 49 games and has produced eight goals and eight assists.
NAIA/NCAA Division III All-Nebraska Men’s Soccer Team
F: Inaki Aldao, Jr., Bellevue
F: Jorge Alencar, So., York
F: Mike Eijgendaal, Fr., Midland
F: Tyrone Madhani, Sr., Hastings
F: Robert Wiseman, Sr., Midland
M: James Kilburn, Sr., Midland
M: Diego Konincks, Fr., Midland
M: Garrett Perry, Jr., Concordia
* M: Callum Watson, So., Hastings
M: Dan Wheeler, Jr., Hastings
D: Joe Connolly, Sr., Hastings
D: Fernando Lisboa, Sr., Hastings
D: Jared Money, Jr., Midland
D: Will Pointon, Jr., Hastings
D: Andy Wilkerson, Jr., Bellevue
G: Eduardo Alba, Fr., Concordia
G: AJ Jarvis, Jr. Bellevue
Honorable mention: Bellevue: Finlay Bloodworth, Alex Cuenca, Andy Janssen, Toby Millward. Concordia: Renzo Bozzo, Roger de la Villa, Carlos Ferrer, Moises Jacobo. Doane: Higor Andrade Dos Santos, Marcos Miranda, Nishesh Yadav. Hastings: Jesus Parra, Tom Steging. Midland: Eli Draves, Antonio Hernandez, Matthew Ricci. Nebraska Wesleyan: Luke Monson, Tyler Sanne. York: Auturo Gutierrez, Jorge Keller.
* — denotes honorary captain