Men’s Soccer Loses to Dakota Wesleyan but Takes Third Seed
By Natasha Torno
By Jordan McCoy
The Concordia men’s soccer team lost 2-1 to Dakota Wesleyan University in the last game of its regular season on Saturday night, Oct. 29, in Mitchell, S.D.
The first goal for Dakota Wesleyan came in the seventh minute off a penalty kick due to a foul inside the penalty box. They struck again right before halftime, forcing Concordia to play catch-up in the second half.
Freshman midfielder Alex Grocott scored a goal off of a header from a ball played in by senior defender Andrew Mussell, but the Bulldogs weren’t able to secure another goal before the end.
“We played with the energy and intensity we needed to but unfortunately giving Dakota Wesleyan a penalty kick early on in the game gave them the momentum they needed to come out on top,” coach Jason Weides said.
Even with this loss, the Bulldogs have secured the third seed in the GPAC tournament behind nationally ranked No. 2 Hastings College and No. 16 Midland University.
The men finished out the regular season with a record of 9-6-2 overall and 6-3 in the GPAC.
“We have to have the mental strength to go into each game like it is a final,” junior midfielder Toby Down said. “Each game from now on could be our last. If we perform for the occasion we will get the results we want.”
Last season, the Bulldogs were victorious over Hastings College in a 1-0 battle, clinching the GPAC tournament trophy and a bid to the national tournament.
On Thursday, Nov. 3, they will face sixth seeded Northwestern in Bulldog Stadium at 7 p.m.
