Coming off a strong 2025 season, the Dodge City men's soccer team entered the 2026 season with much anticipation, ranked #14 in the national rankings, and took on Northeastern Junior College in the season opener.
The Conquistadors, for the second straight year, settled for a tie against Northeastern in a non-conference contest this time, however, seeing the win slip away in the final minutes of the contest, as the Conqs tied 2-2.
The Conqs took control early and control most of the possession through the first half, winning several corner kick opportunities, and in the 24
th minute, off a corner kick put into the box by
Adam Oueslati, the ball found the back of the net off a Northeastern player. The own goal by NJC gave the Conqs the 1-0 lead. The lead was short-lived as they answered less than two minutes later with the equalizer. With halftime creeping close, the Conqs worked another set piece, this time on a free kick as
Sota Kido set it across the box, finding
Towa Ochiai for a goal, and the Conqs carried a 2-1 lead into halftime.
The second half saw Northeastern be a bit more aggressive and, in doing so, they managed some quality shots. The Conqs kept them off the scoreboard until the final three minutes of the match, as Northeastern scored in the 87
th minute to tie the game and ultimately end the contest in a 2-2 draw.
On the day, the Conqs outshot NJC 17-10 and had 11 corner kicks.
Up next, the Conqs take on #1 Indian Hills in a neutral-site contest in Baldwin City, Kansas, at Baker University on Monday, August 24
th at 1:00 pm.
