Men’s soccer welcomes new coach while teams build trust

Men’s soccer preseason scrimmages against Sporting Nebraska.

Photo: Leonardo Lopez

This story is featured in the August print edition of the Sower newspaper. 

By Keith Siek

Bulldog soccer launches into a competitive schedule this fall with coach Bernie Ochoa — a Concordia graduate and member of the Athletics Hall of Fame — at the helm of a men’s team that made it to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Tournament last year but lost in the second round.

Coach Bernie Ochoa. Photo: Concordia Athletics.

The women are coached by Jason Weides, who led the men for 18 seasons, with the team coming off a semifinal loss to Hastings in the Great Plains Athletic Conference postseason play. Weides and Ochoa coached their new teams in the spring but are still building trust with players.

“I’m eager to learn and grow alongside the team as I’m in my first season with the women’s side,” Weides said.
Ochoa’s relationship with the men’s team has continued to grow as players have become familiar with his offensive style of play.

“I’ve had nothing but good experiences with coach Bernie,” senior Michael Wyvill said. Wyvill played three years in a system under Weides that was defensively focused but sees Ochoa bringing a different dynamic to the Bulldogs’ game.

“Bernie brings a new set of eyes in the attack, which will be pretty beneficial to our team in the fall,” he said.
Ochoa added four freshmen and seven transfers to his roster. With a good mix of international and domestic talent, fall camp has had competitive practices as players work to earn a starting role.

“From our young to our experienced players, it will be a very talented group in which week in and week out they will compete for a starting spot,” Ochoa said of his players. Wyvill likes what he has seen from Bulldog soccer’s new players.

“They have come in hungry and have provided good competition and a new dynamic,” Wyvill said.

Women’s soccer practices at CU Field. Photo: Leonardo Lopez.

Ochoa’s men will be tested against strong competition as they prepare to improve on a 12-win season and defend their Great Plains Athletic Conference title. Intercollegiate play heats up as the Bulldogs travel for a matchup against No. 7 William Penn University in Iowa on Sept. 5, but the non-conference schedule is highlighted by a contest against No. 1 Grand View Iowa, the defending NAIA champions, on Sept. 7.

“It is hard to not look ahead and circle your calendar when you see the defending national champions on your gameday calendar, but the main message highlighted this year is taking it game by game,” Wyvill said.

Fans can catch Concordia’s men’s home opener and senior day under the lights on Sept. 2, when the Bulldogs host Bellevue University Nebraska. Mid-American Christian University out of Oklahoma and York University closer to home are on the schedule before GPAC play begins on Sept. 19.

Weides has bolstered his roster with five new players, building around existing talent on the women’s team. A returning core that won 13 games last season, including Second Team All-GPAC sophomore Guadalupe Sanchez, junior First Team All-GPAC athletes Kyana Rios and junior Triniti Rowe, looks to lead the 2026 campaign.

“Our newcomers are making an impact right away,” Weides said. “This group has talent and is showing a great mentality too. They are a positive addition to our team culture, something we are intentional about investing in.”

Early season games against tough competition will help refine the strengths and test the weaknesses for the squad.

“These teams will challenge us to perform at our best and expose areas we will need to continue to learn and grow,” said Weides. “This team is used to playing top teams and will be up for the challenge.”

Bulldog fans’ first opportunity to watch their new team is Sept. 2, when Concordia hosts a matchup at Bulldog Stadium against Bellevue University.

“We enjoy competing for CUNE and hope Bulldog Nation will show up in force and support our team,” Weides said.

The Bulldogs will also face Kansas Wesleyan Sept. 9 and Dakota State University Sept. 12, before beginning the conference schedule.