Concordia Men’s Soccer shut out Mount Marty with press heavy defenses allowing zero shots.
Photo Description: Mattis Hollnagel fights to keep possession
Photo Credit: Esther Molina (Photo from previous game)
Darien Semedo
Sower Staff
The Concordia Bulldogs open conference play with a win 3-0 against the Mount Marty Lancers Saturday (Sept. 16) in Seward, Neb. The Bulldogs controlled the day on both sides of the ball from start to finish, holding the Lancers to zero shots in the afternoon.
The Bulldogs had found early success this year with a 6-0 record entering the Great Plains Athletic Conference schedule. The success continued with one of the more impressive defensive games from Concordia. The Bulldogs controlled the pace and possession throughout the entire game, which led to zero shots from the Lancers.
Head Coach Jason Weides was proud of the team’s press and counter press which led to the lockdown defense. “We pressed pretty well, and counter pressed really well so whenever we lost possession within 2-4 seconds, we won it back. It was tough for them to get out of those,” Weides said. “The key to us defensively not allowing a shot which doesn’t happen very often even when you dominate a game it’s pretty rare that you hold them to zero shots, so it was impressive.”
The Bulldogs opened the scoring with a strike to the top right of the net from junior Carter Hinman. Forward senior Isaiah Shaddick assisted on the shot in the 34th minute. Shaddick is ranked second in the GPAC in assists, assisted on the second goal of the game to freshman Kai Olbrich at the 49th minute mark. The Bulldogs added a final score with a junior D’andre Williams penalty kick at the 86th minute mark.
As the Bulldogs continue GPAC play, the team only has one goal for the season: Nationals. The Bulldogs mantra for the year is “go further” in every way possible. Coach Weides’ and the men’s teams goals all lead to them being at the national tournament. “The team goals are simple, it’s Nationals. The mantra we’ve been using this year is go further than last year and go further in everything we do,” he said. “But our one goal is nationals and I mean that’s our daily goal that’s our long-term goal that’s everything all wrapped up into everything.”
The Bulldogs are 7-0 and tied for first in the GPAC with Briar Cliff and Morningside with each team at 1-0. Dordt is next on the schedule for the Bulldogs with the Defenders coming to Seward, Neb., on Wednesday (Sept. 20).
