Concordia men’s soccer suffers late surge against the Warriors
Photo credit: Josiah Seabaugh (photo from 2024 season)
By Ransom Watts
Concordia men’s soccer suffered a 3-0 loss on the road this Wednesday, Oct. 16, against Midland University in a game that was tied for a majority of playing time.
From the start of the game, it looked to be a slower one than usual for both teams. Both Midland and Concordia were unable to add to the score for the entirety of the first half. Despite both teams seeming to show some offensive promise with a few good shots and drives to the goal, neither was able to produce in the first.
Shots in the first half weren’t too lopsided in favor of Midland, who outshot Concordia 12-8. The stats for Concordia and Midland’s goalkeepers, who both managed to hold their opponent at bay with two saves, tell a similar story. Midland did get a little reckless with fouls in the first half, leading Concordia 5-1 in that category.
Into the second half, it seemed like both teams would continue the stalemate. At the start of the second half, the Bulldogs were neck and neck with the Vikings in shots and seemed to answer any offensive attempt by Midland with one of their own.
Midland had a few opportunities with corner kicks, which they led Concordia in overall 8-5, but were unable to capitalize when the opportunities arose. Midland also led the Bulldogs in fouls, 11-3 in the second half and 16-4 overall.
At 60 minutes into the game, Concordia and Midland made some substitutions for some fresh players, which might’ve been what Midland’s offense needed. With less than twenty minutes left in the second, Midland scored its first goal, which was followed in quick succession by two more, making the score 3-0.
After this, and with only minutes left in the game, the deficit proved too much for Concordia to climb out of.
Despite the loss, a few Bulldogs had good games in their own right. Concordia junior Hugo Garrote led his team in shots with three, and Sophomore Ricards Busmeisters, junior Jasper Hofland, and freshman Karlo Rodriguez all had two each.
Concordia also stayed out of foul trouble, with a total for the entire game of four fouls to Midland’s 16.
On Oct. 18, the now 6-8-0 Bulldogs are back at it on the road, this time in Mitchell, South Dakota, to face the 7-6-1 Dakota Wesleyan Tigers at 4 p.m.
