SEWARD, Neb. – The (RV) Concordia men’s soccer team has five student-athlete All-GPAC selections this season. Forward Julian Amaya, midfielder Lewis Rathbone and defender Justin Lawrie picked up All-GPAC Second Team honors. Defender Mark Campbell and midfielder Gideon Soenksen were selected to the All-GPAC Honorable Mention team.
Amaya, a senior from Bogota, Colombia, appeared in 19 games started 17 for Concordia. The forward scored six goals and assisted four, both season highs. The senior ranked second on the team in goals scored and tied for second in assists. Amaya scored two game winners for the Bulldogs, one at Morningside on Oct. 10 and against Briar Cliff on Oct. 17.
Rathbone, a sophomore from England, appeared in 15 games and started 12 for the Bulldogs. In his first year at Concordia, Rathbone knocked in two goals and led the team with six assists. The .40 assists per game ranked fifth in the GPAC while the six total ranked eighth. Rathbone had a game high of three assists and six shots in the final season finale verse Mount Marty College.
Lawrie, a senior from Winnipeg, Canada, started in all 20 games for Concordia. This is the second straight post-season GPAC honor for Lawrie. He was part of the back line that recorded nine shutouts, which led the GPAC and allowed just 1.15 goals a game. Lawrie scored one goal and assisted one goal at Dakota Wesleyan this season. The senior grabbed GPAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Oct. 27 this year.
Campbell, a senior from Dublin, Ireland appeared in 16 games and started 15. The All-GPAC selection is Campbell’s third straight post-season GPAC honor. In the backfield, Campbell helped the Bulldogs to a GPAC leading nine shutouts and a 1.15 average goals allowed per game, which ranked fourth in the GPAC.
Soenksen, a senior from Lincoln, Neb., appeared in all 20 games and started 19 for the Bulldogs. This is Soenksen’s third straight post-season GPAC honor. The senior scored one goal against Sterling and assisted two against York and Sterling this year. Soensken took 41 shots, which tied for fourth on the team.
The (RV) Concordia men’s soccer team advanced to the NAIA Tournament for the first time in program history after defeating No. 19 Hastings College in the GPAC Championship game. The victory was also the first-ever GPAC Championship for the CUNE program. The Bulldogs will face No. 2 Oklahoma Wesleyan University in the opening round of the NAIA Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 21. The match will take place at Bartlesville, Okla. Kickoff time is to be determined.